Suspensions

The Suspension Tightrope Returns

This evening we bring back the Scout’s Suspension Tightrope widget, which is now available in your right sidebars under the Watchlist rankings.

For those of you less familiar with these pages, the tightrope offers a window into the more nefarious antics of the Premier League and the impact these indiscretions may have upon our Fantasy form. Cards are counted up from League Cup, FA cup and Premier League matches and the table is updated after each Gameweek – we’ll aim to share the Fantasy implications of the latest yellows and reds dished out by referees as we go.

We’ll bring you news of all the suspensions to blight our game, along with a regular update of the yellow card totals of the most heinous perpetrators as they approach the precipice of a ban and mount the ‘Suspension Tightrope’.

At present, there is just one player currently teetering on the brink of a one-match ban. Arsenal’s Mathieu Flamini is the man in question, after picking up his fourth caution of the season in the Gunners’ draw against West Brom on Sunday afternoon – the Frenchman has now been booked in four of his five league appearances since returning to the Emirates this summer.

Given Flamini’s propensity for picking up yellows, he looks highly likely to be facing suspension soon – essentially, he has to avoid incurring the referee’s wrath up to and including December 31, when the card quota is then extended to 10.

Plenty of others currently sit on three yellows, with just a couple more cautions set to trigger a ban. Amongst the most notable in Fantasy terms, the list includes Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, who is owned by 30% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, whilst cut-price midfielder Ross Barkley and Ravel Morrison are also in the mix, along with the likes of Craig Gardner, Jon Walters and Marouane Chamakh.

Fernando Torres and Lucas are now both available after each served a one-match suspension in the previous Gameweek. Torres is still sidelined with a knee injury, though, while his former Liverpool team-mate is expected to return to the fold as Brendan Rodgers takes his team to Tyneside to face Newcastle next time around.

Anorak Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana. Follow them on Twitter

1,469 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The3rdTurd
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Hooray, it's back!

    Open Controls
  2. Brutus619
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    YOLO

    Open Controls
  3. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    A welcome return, always useful 🙂

    Open Controls
  4. Del Monte
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Banana Sheikh reporting for duty.

    Open Controls
    1. Heels_Over_Head
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Nice one Flying Bananas!

      *I wonder if we could get some bananas in there...

      Open Controls
      1. Del Monte
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        The bananas are going to be slippery opponents

        Open Controls
  5. JT's Dog
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Do people think soldado is likely to drop before the internationals? Do not want to lose more value, but it is for benteke so don't want to risk until he is defo playing

      Open Controls
      1. Art Vandelay
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I am afraid a fall looks imminent. -79% so far, down 9% today.

        Open Controls
      2. GlasgowFF
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I did Soldado to Lukaku to catch the rises.

        Open Controls
    • McSauce
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Boruc
      Vidic Ivanovic Toure (chester,baker)
      HBA Ozil Lampard Delph (brady)
      Giroud Suarez Rooney (c)

      2FT and 1.0m in the bank

      Lampard HBA and Brady -----> Michu Ramsey and Barkley???? (-4)

      YES or NO??

      Open Controls
      1. Pleased to Michu
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        no

        Open Controls
    • Conflict of interest
      GlasgowFF
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      As someone who doesn't support an EPL team I would be interested to know whether people that do support a team are conflicted when they play teams that you have fantasy players in.

      Does real life outweigh fantasy or is it a case of wanting your fantasy player to score 3 as long as your team scores 4?

      Open Controls
      1. r0nh
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        My team comes second now.

        Open Controls
      2. Ghost Ship
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I now cheer when my fantasy player scores against my team, which as a QPR supporter was frequent last season. I know I should be ashamed but I'm not.

        Open Controls
      3. thetinkerman
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I will be totally honest and say that my FPL team has become more important.

        I know it's sad but it's true.

        Open Controls
      4. Spencer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I vowed to never have any Liverpool players in my team partly because if this. The other reason was because the players I had were Carroll and Downing. 😯

        Loved it when Palace got a goal at the weekend, as I'm one of the few that don't have Mignolet.

        Open Controls
      5. Lanley Staurel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I'm off up to watch Saints play at Man Utd in a couple of weeks and Rooney will NOT be my captain. I couldn't travel all that way and go through that.

        However, I am looking forward to seeing all the Man U fans on the same train as me travelling to their home town team from the south coast 😉

        Open Controls
      6. Caine & Co.
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        i have never understood this. clearly you 'wanting' fpl points dont make any difference in real life so i would recommend everyone to focking enjoy the football match. check the fpl team later

        Open Controls
      7. Mr. Perfectionist
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Always want Man Utd to win come what may, even if its a Friendly so they always come 1st for me. FPL matters a lot to me as well. S its basically a case of if a player from the opposition team scores against us then it should be the player I own, but Im never happy about it or celebrate, rather Utd win than my FPL team doing well.

        Open Controls
      8. The EJJ
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Personally, real life outweighs fantasy but I normally stock up on players from the team I support, so that makes it easier.

        Open Controls
      9. Brouhaha
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        The only solace i take from my shocking fpl season is that liverpool are 2nd!

        Open Controls
      10. Alberto Tomba
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Crikey I couldn't cheer against my own team! I see it as insurance, ie my mates all support arsenal so by having Chesney as keeper he's a differential and I'm not too down if they do well. Similarly I try not to have too many of my team's (Liverpool) players, which raised a few eyebrows in my ML at the start of the season when I had three!

        Open Controls
      11. lKalikl
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I try to avoid players that will be playing against my team if I am transferring in the GW they play my team. So, if Man U is playing Arsenal that GW, I avoid Rooney or RVP being transferred in that GW, but if I already have Rooney or RVP in the squad, I might field them, if I think they will do well that GW.

        The recent lot of 'traitors' from the Arsenal are players I am extremely reluctant to transfer in at any time though: Nasri, RVP, Clichy etc. Last season, in the case of RVP, it was very hard to ignore his scoring for a stretch there, so he was recruited in, but the moment I saw his form dip, I booted him again and was happy to see the back of him.

        My favourite team in the world being Barcelona, it goes without saying that I avoid the fantasy league for La Liga like the plague. I like my Spanish football to be just about the joy of watching Barca play, and usually win.

        I play UEFA CL fantasy though and I avoid recruiting players who will be playing against Barcelona or Arsenal, if its possible. At the later stages of that competition, that is very hard to accomplish though and you end up with a few rivals in your team.

        Open Controls
      12. turd ferguson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        No. Real life is more important. It's just nice when they both do well 🙂

        Open Controls
      13. No Luck
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Having players from rival teams if a win-win in my books. If they do well then I'm happy, if they lose then I'm even more delighted! If I had to choose I'd rather Terry conceded 4 and Chelsea lose than if he scores a goal and cs for my team but I'd be happy either way 😀

        Open Controls
      14. A.C. Spider Baby
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        The ideal thing is if your players on the opposing team score but your team still beat them!

        Open Controls
      15. Lateriser 12
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Real football over FPL. All day. Everyday.

        Open Controls
    • GYM JUNKIE
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      What a great figure Carol Vorderman has

      Open Controls
      1. Del Monte
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Serious eye candy on pride of britain, chicks everywhere

        Open Controls
      2. r0nh
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        That show is so cringe worthy!

        The celebs just want to be seen.

        *saw

        *seened!!!

        Open Controls
      3. GREENDREAMS11
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I would like to see her Pi Arsesquared

        Open Controls
        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Never gets old 😀

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qncZ7DqhJh0

          Open Controls
    • Blue Lion
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      グッドナイト ( Guddenaito) guys!

      Open Controls
    • Nopli -The Banned One (Solo…
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Any spot still left for this poor soul? 🙁

      Open Controls
      1. Nopli -The Banned One (Solo…
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        cheers

        Open Controls
    • mattyrobinson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      There's a lot of Ozil hype fluttering around but do the comparison with Silva and you'll see they're almost identical. There are always a lot of comments about Silva's lack of explosiveness but Ozil seems like he's going to be much the same. They are completely neck and neck over the previous 4 matches played on almost every statistic...

      Think I'm going Ozil to Silva, free some cash and get Wally when he's back.

      Open Controls
      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Upgrading Ozil to Walcott soon.

        Open Controls
      2. thetinkerman
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I think it's more a case of one being more fashionable.

        Both are very good at creating a large number of chances and chipping in with the odd goal, but IMO I don't think they will prove better value than players in their price bracket who score more goals.

        Open Controls
    • r0nh
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Nicole got blew out!!

      In your face!!

      Open Controls
      1. r0nh
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Also, I got arrested for trying to kiss me boys!!

        I demand equal rights!

        Open Controls
    • goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Anyone's top 4 prediction changed yet?

      Open Controls
      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Nah, still CHE, MANC, ARS, TOT/UTD for me.

        Open Controls
        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Chels to win it?..interesting.

          Open Controls
          1. Captain Shirokov
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I may be biased. 😉

            Open Controls
        2. mattyrobinson
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          No Liverpool in the mix?

          Open Controls
          1. Captain Shirokov
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I suppose if ever there was a year it would be this year but I can't see them keeping it up. Wouldn't rule them out though.

            Open Controls
      2. GYM JUNKIE
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        mancity chel ars utd

        Open Controls
      3. Carrick Doesn't Deserv…
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Chelsea, arsenal, Liverpool, city.

        Open Controls
        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          City Chels Ars Liv/Utd for me.

          Open Controls
      4. Laserface
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        United City Chelsea Arsenal

        Open Controls
      5. Brouhaha
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Nope - still liverpool, arsenal, city and chelsea!

        Open Controls
    • Captain Shirokov
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Flamini is the key to Arsenal's recent success

      Open Controls
      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Agreed. He's best when he's off the ball. Dictator.

        Open Controls
        1. mattyrobinson
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          He's best when he's on a yellow.

          Open Controls
    • goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Oh, and I hear United are keeping tabs on Weimann.

      Open Controls
      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Hope not.

        Open Controls
        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          He's very good IMO. Upgrade on likes of Zaha and Welbeck. United fans will disagree.

          Open Controls
      2. GYM JUNKIE
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Utd need world star players.

        Open Controls
        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          They need a world class manager too.

          Open Controls
    • Calling first time posters
      thetinkerman
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      @ Lurkers (in other words, people who log onto the site but rarely/never comment):

      What would encourage you to switch from a passive user of this site to an active member of the community (or at least someone who posts comments)?

      This is a genuine question, I don't want to judge or criticise.

      Open Controls
      1. SPorting
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Like they're ever going to reply.

        🙄

        Open Controls
        1. thetinkerman
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Perhaps you've answered my question in a way, but rather "what stops you..."

          Open Controls
          1. SPorting
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            They probably want to post stuff but they're too busy laughing at my jokes.

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Definitely this 😉

              Open Controls
            2. Evs
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              *team 😛

              Open Controls
              1. SPorting
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                Abuse?

                Open Controls
      2. GREENDREAMS11
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Casuals getting slagged off when asking for advice on rmt's cant help. Everyone has to start somewhere

        Open Controls
        1. GREENDREAMS11
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Maybe that should have read. Casuals/ newbies.

          Open Controls
        2. thetinkerman
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          This. I think regulars are a little impatient with newbies, especially with RMTs without comment. Obviously including a bit of though process is important if you want to interest people and start discussions.

          Open Controls
          1. GREENDREAMS11
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I think its easier to gravitate to people you know and pretty much neglect those you don't.,, We all do that to varying degrees,but sometimes regulars on here are just downright rude, if you don't want to give advice then fine, leave it at that rather than ridicule people for asking questions, especially f/f related questions, Its not as if they're asking for relationship advice.

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Fair enough. I guess another thing I would say to newbies/lurkers is look to at the recent tweets and recent comments etc. before posting as it's the repeating of questions that annoys people more than anything I think.

              Maybe a guide for new users would be useful so as to avoid this kind of thing?

              Open Controls
          2. Scottys Army
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            when i first joined all i did was ask for helpin rmt's , but now i realise you have to help other people as well.

            Open Controls
      3. lionhunter
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        A lot of us use this site to get opinions or views about our FPL teams, or about the transfers we want to make. In many cases, these questions have already been asked and answered before and it's only a matter of spending time to go through previous posts. I do ask a question or two when I don't find something I have been looking for, but otherwise it's just a matter of 'lurking' to get the information you need. There are hundreds of people giving out opinions, so I'm pretty sure someone has already said what I want to say. Ultimately, I would say it is a personal choice to just 'lurk' and not comment.

        Open Controls
        1. GREENDREAMS11
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah, there is this, But in all fairness if I want to know something i'll just ask rather than troll back 5 or 6 pages to see if someone has already asked what I want to know.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            ...which I guess is why the duplicate questions start. It's pretty understandable really.

            Perhaps a FAQ each week would help? Perhaps an article on Friday or Saturday or maybe from the community in the form of a hot topic

            Open Controls
          2. lionhunter
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            So maybe 3-5 people will reply on my post. But I like to get the views of a big group of people to not have a biased decision. Reading a few pages helps. Also, I ultimately make my own decision. When I post again, I wouldn't want to be known as the person who asks for opinion, and then goes against it.

            Open Controls
            1. The3rdTurd
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              I fear you are deluded if you think a big group of responses here will lead to an unbiased decision.

              The wisdom of crowds only applies where everyone in the crowd comes to their own decision independently of the others. Instead we have on here groupthink and bandwagons perpetuated by a few which rapidly spreads to the many.

              The end result is anything but decisions being reached independently.

              Open Controls
              1. lionhunter
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                I'm not complaining. I know what you say is 100% true. I just prefer to lurk, take in everything, and then make my own decision.

                Open Controls
              2. thetinkerman
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                This, which is why I often feel compelled to comment and start discussions.

                Open Controls
            2. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Na, I think it's fine to ask for opinion and go against it, as long as you show appreciation of the effort.

              You're right that it's best to make your own decision, and perhaps you have an angle that hasn't been discussed yet that could affect others' views. That's why, as you say, it is important to get as much feedback and discussion as possible

              Open Controls
        2. thetinkerman
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I get this, and this was my attitude when I started using the site. Maybe it's just my personality, but I find it helps even more to discuss my thought process before making a decision.

          Perhaps that doesn't apply to a lot of lurkers who may also be pretty casual players anyway.

          Open Controls
          1. GREENDREAMS11
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Im not too sure to be honest, i used to be really active on here a couple of years back, it was more fun imo, varied characters with less moderation and great discussion. Nowadays i come to see the information I need and maybe have a quick chat and go. Lots of the old regulars don't post here anymore but I cant really talk for them. Things move on but as a site for ff related information its spot on.

            Open Controls
          2. lionhunter
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I am definitely not a casual. And I probably spend a lot more time here than quite a few regulars, just don;t comment much. I take in the same amount of info as you guys do, and I find this this site equally useful.

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Fair enough.

              Well say hello more often, especially when I need help 😉

              Open Controls
              1. lionhunter
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                Sure! 🙂

                Open Controls
      4. Evans
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Perhaps they're just happy lurking

        Open Controls
      5. SPorting
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Quite a few lurkers just want your advice and not your social contact.

        They're cold and ruthless or selfish and uncaring or just not interested in you.

        They come here to get information about a simple Fantasy game. They don't "get" the community spirit. hey don't need to.

        What is the point when they only want to see who is hot or not this GW?

        They go to other sites as well and this one is no different. just a source of info.

        Open Controls
        1. Scottys Army
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          i get that , at the start all i was interested in was getting help , but after a while you realise its good to give out advice and help to others.

          Open Controls
        2. thetinkerman
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Fair point, although you have to wonder if someone is visiting the site on a Tuesday evening in the middle of an international break, whether they are just here for info, hence why I chose to post now rather than on a Friday evening/Saturday morning before a deadline.

          Open Controls
        3. lionhunter
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Regulars tend to interract more with other regulars. If I make a general post, it definitely wouldn't get the same response that a post from on eof the well-known regulars would get. It's just easy to leave it to these regulars to post then, and just read the replies.

          Open Controls
          1. GREENDREAMS11
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Exactly Lion, Like I said earlier you tend to gravitate to who you know. There are loads of people just "travelling through" asking things and sometimes you just cant be bothered.

            Open Controls
        4. GREENDREAMS11
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Lol, stop it man, im going to cry, Ruthless, sell fish. &. Scampi. Lol.

          Open Controls
      6. LEEDSLEEDSLEEDS
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Smoking less weed

        Open Controls
        1. thetinkerman
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I've got something for you then...

          Search "8-bit cover" on youtube.

          Open Controls
      7. Qubit
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Not sure what constitutes a lurker. I used to post a little bit more some years ago, but I dont now as I believe the overall standard of discussion and quality of poster has declined. If I wanted to talk about fantasy football you'd struggle to do it here.

        Open Controls
        1. Evans
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah agree with this

          Open Controls
        2. SPorting
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          YOU are the type of member/poster that FFS (Mark) is looking for.

          Aren't you encouraged to put some thought into a post and have it +1'd to a sticky or Hot Topic?

          Open Controls
        3. SPorting
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          You see, we sometimes forget that some people take their football deadly serious and only want deep in-depth detailed discussion.

          Some people are not comfortable with the light and airy popcorn exchanges.

          Open Controls
          1. Qubit
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            And some people take their fantasy football deadly serious as well! 😉 (well i used to, then i realised it was bad for my health)

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              I am guilty of that sometimes, but I also enjoy discussing football in general, even if it isn't necessarily directly concerned with FPL

              Open Controls
              1. Qubit
                • 14 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                Indeed, for what its worth i do believe the site would benefit from separating the 2 a bit more perhaps.

                Open Controls
                1. thetinkerman
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 12 Years
                  10 years, 5 months ago

                  You mean between off topic stuff and FPL stuff? Or FPL stuff and general football discussion?

                  Did you see my question below?

                  http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2013/10/08/the-suspension-tightrope-returns-3/?hc_page=1#hc_comment_5781230

                  Open Controls
        4. thetinkerman
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Don't you find the hot topics and the ability to filter by sticky comments and comment ratings has helped?

          I pretty much only come on here to discuss fantasy football (although I admit many don't) and I don't feel like there is a lack of like-minded people.

          Open Controls
          1. Qubit
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Sorry, didnt see this before. Yeh i guess its helped a bit. But from my own participation point of view the damage was already done prior to that site change. Perhaps its time i gave it another chance.

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              The weekly roundup is also a really great way to browse interesting topics from the week. We (or at least the scouts) plan to develop the site further in order to encourage in-depth FPL chat and it's certainly working from my point of view.

              Open Controls
      8. Kenncam
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Regulars on the site have quite strong opinions so it can seem a bit daunting sometimes in case you get shot down. Also, it's excellent just to be able to browse through the comments quickly on your phone when you're busy to keep up to date and there's not necessarily anything positive to add.

        Open Controls
        1. GREENDREAMS11
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Yes, And the thing is, Some of the people who don't contribute very often and lurk are incredible at f/f. Its not the 1st time i've come across someone asking questions who has an incredible track record and doing very well compared with some of the regulars who have a very average history like myself. Being a regular doesn't equal being good at this game in any way, shape or form. The next guy you speak to could be a f/f guru folks.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            This.

            Open Controls
        2. thetinkerman
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I agree and it happens to me all of the time too, although probably to a lesser extent to someone who doesn't post very often and isn't as well recognised on the site.

          I think I enjoy challenging people's assumptions and views and in turn having my assumptions and views challenged.

          Open Controls
          1. SPorting
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Can I still post knob gags?

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              I think the site would be empty without them 😉

              Open Controls
      9. SPorting
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Can I take a moment to say that I have never really given advice to anyone.

        I just come on here to entertain.

        Open Controls
        1. Scottys Army
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          good lad never change

          Open Controls
        2. GREENDREAMS11
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Kinda similar here, With scores like mine I cant take it too serious but when I give advice its what I think think to be the best advice at that particular time

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Quality over quantity. I wonder how different this site would be if everyone posted this way!

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              And by everyone, I also mean those who don't usually post.

              Open Controls
      10. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I have been reading the site for 3 years now and been a member for the last two I think.
        I will sometimes ask for advice on my team but don't often respond to others. The reason for this is probably more lack of confidence in my own opinions! I feel there are others that know more that would be better placed to answer.
        I'd say more most likely to respond to a/b/c questions.
        I have had a couple of not so nice responses to my questions as well, which doesn't help.
        I definitely think that an article that covered frequently asked questions would be a great idea!

        Open Controls
        1. Scottys Army
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I see where your coming from , dont be afraid to give your opinions though thats what this place is all about theres nothing to be afraid of.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            If you've been around for 3 years, I think it's fair to say you know a fair amount about FPL an football in general.

            Maybe start posting some responses to questions you have a strong opinion on. No-one can tell you your opinion is wrong, especially if you give your reasons and/or let us in on your thought process

            Open Controls
        2. waltzingmatildas
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Thanks for that guys, doesn't help that I'm female so even off the sitetmost guys don't value my footie opinion!.....This gives me a little more confidence to post 🙂
          Great topic!

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Women who like FFS are a rare commodity 🙂

            To be fair, many probably wouldn't even know unless you explicitly said!

            Open Controls
      11. Whiskerz
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        When I first joined (at the start of this season) I was looking for advice, or hot tips on soon-to-be high scoring players.

        My first few posts followed the RMT standard pattern. I got very few replies. I changed how I posted my RMTs by including more information, my thought process behind my suggested transfers, the lack of replies continued.

        It would be easy to get put off by that. It would be easy to assume that the lack of responses is down to cliquishness. But I don't believe that is 100% accurate. Sure, there is some unwritten rule that older posters get more replies, but that is more an example of friendships forged than people hating random new guys.

        Having only been here a couple of months myself I am already bored with answering different RMTs which differ by 0.001% from the last one I answered 3 posts up. I can empathise with those that have had it for 5+ years, not giving a toss for some new stranger's query, but answering the one from their friend.

        I think for the passive user to move to an active, contributing, member, they have to want to themselves. They have to have enough confidence in themselves to keep posting. Opinions, humor, Croatian, whatever gets their voice to be heard. I don't believe there is a change the existing community could/should/would want to make that would stick over time. And I don't think you would enjoy the quality of poster you would gain if it became less of a trial.

        Open Controls
        1. SPorting
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          6/10

          Open Controls
          1. Whiskerz
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Having just gone downstairs to make a cup of tea I had an epiphany. I could've summed the whole thing I wrote up with this analogy:

            This site is like the Hokey Cokey. You gotta put something in to get something out. OOooooooohhhhhhhHH.....

            Open Controls
            1. SPorting
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Haha. Wasn't rating your post (which was very good), I was just making up for all the RMT's you never got.

              Sorry, just me being droll.

              Open Controls
              1. thetinkerman
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                😆 🙄

                Open Controls
                1. SPorting
                  • 12 Years
                  10 years, 5 months ago

                  Exhibit A, M'Lud.

                  Open Controls
        2. GREENDREAMS11
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          There's no real rhyme or reason as to what will provoke a response, Although hats off to Tinkyuchenko for starting this topic because it seems to have got quite a few people to speak up and air their opinions. Well done sir

          Open Controls
          1. Scottys Army
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Yeh sometimes i make a post and think it will provoke some views and no one replies , yet someone else makes a similiar style of post later and there are floods of replies and that can be a litte frustrating.

            Open Controls
            1. GREENDREAMS11
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Lol, My Mrs is on your side, She reads this post and said "poor Scotty's army ". Lol, maybe coz were Scottish. I don't know though

              Open Controls
              1. Scottys Army
                • 10 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                lol cheers

                Open Controls
              2. thetinkerman
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                You have a wife who is also interesting in FPL/FFS?

                I want one!

                Open Controls
            2. Qubit
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              yeh, ive had that too 🙂

              Open Controls
          2. Whiskerz
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Definitely. It is an interesting topic, with no definitive answer.

            Open Controls
        3. thetinkerman
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Get Lukaku 😉

          I started out the same way as everyone else here, slowly adding my opinion and helping people.

          People really remember when you reply to their comments with helpful advice so I would definitely advise that. A cheeky question or RMT after giving a fair amount of advice is never unwelcome I don't think.

          Open Controls
      12. Mr. Perfectionist
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Would definitely encourage me to post more if I get more replies to my post. Been around since 1.5 year now but lurk more than I comment since I don't get too many responses . Also not a member and don't divulge too much into stats so don't have those fascinating tables and long posts regarding them, which makes a huge difference since those are the kind of posts n members getting all the replies more often than not.

        Open Controls
        1. GREENDREAMS11
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          No dude, Stats are stats, they mean nothing, Opinions are what its about, I see people on here spouting stat after stat as if they think they know something. Repeating some spreadsheet prose verbatim, It means nothing, People like to discuss what they think and feel about a situation, what is in the veins, experience from watching years or rubbish games etc. they know way more than someone glued to black and white imo. Football is about passion not logarithims.

          Open Controls
          1. Mr. Perfectionist
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Yes I totally agree with you, I watch full games or highlights and go with my gut regarding acquiring players, never usually trust on stats, they can be quite misleading.

            Open Controls
          2. Snevitz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I completely disagree - fantasy football is very much about stats. Like poker there will be some people who believe that they are doing things by feel but this is by subconsciously processing information (statistics and trends) to reach a conclusion. You score points due to the statistics from the games played so FPL is a statistics based game.

            Open Controls
            1. Colonel Wasabi
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Interesting debate....

              Open Controls
              1. Snevitz
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                It should possibly have it's own section, have a feeling I might be outnumbered but I think a lot of that is because people want to make out that they have some sort of 'sixth sense' for the game.
                Regarding Brady mentioned below I brought him in because he was cheap, on penalties and free kicks and in a team that was performing better than expected. Not advanced statistical data granted but surely these are player stats?

                Open Controls
            2. Scottys Army
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Disagree its not all about stats

              robbie brady is a prime example i watched a few games and thought this lad is a threat , stats said he wasnt a good pick , mu gut insinct said different.

              He did very well for my team.

              Open Controls
            3. The3rdTurd
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              So much this.

              Statistics are an inseparable and intrinsic part of the game. Rankings, points, bonuses, formations, budgets, value for money, transfers, hits... it's all numbers/stats based.

              You can't ignore that side of the game, even if you wanted to.

              Open Controls
            4. Mr. Perfectionist
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Stats are pointing towards Paulinho ATM, but having seen Spurs games and seen them play I fail to understand how he is going to be a good FPL pick. He has got into good positions but he is not a natural finisher. Relying on him for goals/assists is not the way, but stats say otherwise.

              Open Controls
              1. thetinkerman
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                I watched the match vs. West Ham and after my hot topic on which Spurs mid was best, I have to say he looked by far the better bet out of him and Eriksen.

                As I've already mentioned, a balance between both statistical analysis and watching matches is important and they do go together

                Open Controls
                1. Mr. Perfectionist
                  • 11 Years
                  10 years, 5 months ago

                  Yeah agreed. Tbf Eriksen does not look like a great FF prospect himself.

                  Open Controls
                  1. thetinkerman
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 12 Years
                    10 years, 5 months ago

                    This is the discussion I'm referring to by the way.

                    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2013/10/03/the-scout-mission-gameweek-7/?hc_page=1#hc_comment_5733701

                    I basically noticed the stats and realised that nobody was discussion Paulinho in any seriousness so decided to start a discussion and give my opinion

                    Open Controls
                    1. thetinkerman
                      • Has Moderation Rights
                      • 12 Years
                      10 years, 5 months ago

                      For what it's worth, the stats from the West Ham game (after I wrtoe that) as well as my observations after watching the whole 90 mins heavily support that hot topic.

                      Open Controls
                    2. Qubit
                      • 14 Years
                      10 years, 5 months ago

                      Yep, Paulinho is my likely transfer this week. Can't see any value anywhere else and would like a reliable slice of the Spurs fixtures. (if siggy were nailed on i might be tempted, but as many others do i fear he's at risk)

                      Open Controls
            5. Qubit
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Yep, this. This game is definitely about information and decisions based on that information. To be honest you dont really even need to be heavily in to football to be any good at it. (although it can help -and also hinder if you aren't careful)

              Open Controls
          3. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I think a middle-ground between a stats-based approach and watching as much football as possible is important. Stats can help you understand a performance and provide a starting point for a discussion, but watching football and understanding what is behind the stats (i.e. the actions on the pitch) is the best approach.

            I don't know how we got talking about this though!

            Open Controls
            1. Colonel Wasabi
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              I'm somewhere in the middle.
              Perhaps watching the game you are subliminally absorbing statistical analysis....who's covering a lot of ground, making passes, clever runs, &c&c.

              But there's surely room for something more nebulous because we're watching humans kick a ball around.

              I mean - If Paulinho goes mad next few weeks the stats will prove it was coming. If he doesn't then "readers of his game" who don't like the look will feel vindicated.....

              Why did I captain Zabaleta in GW2? Not stats at that stage - just a feeling. ie. LUCK

              Does luck trump stats or vice versa ?

              Is FPL one big casino??
              Questions questions....

              Open Controls
              1. Qubit
                • 14 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                FPL is a numbers game in more ways than you might think. Basically you can't beat the sheer scale of the numbers playing the game, even semi seriously. Someone somewhere will have the ideal (or close to it) team due to the sheer weight of numbers playing the game.

                People get confused over whether hits are a bad thing and the argument for them being bad mostly consisting of quoting the people at the top of FPL each year usually have very few hits.

                This is a very poor argument. If you stop and think about it for a minute, logically of course the people at the top will have fewer hits (on average).
                This is because they have achieved closer to the 'ideal' score whilst taking the fewest hits, not because they took no or few hits.

                The key here however is not fewest hits - its ideal score. There's no point in taking few or no hits if you're miles away from the 'ideal' score. (This is also why wildcarding early(ish) on is actually usually a good move *if* you are long way from that ideal.)

                Well judged/timed hits (one of the few areas where skill really does play a part in this game!) can therefore serve to bring you back closer to the 'ideal' without too much penalty.

                Open Controls
                1. Colonel Wasabi
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  10 years, 5 months ago

                  Good post.
                  Looking at my last 2 seasons I took plenty of hits yet the overall rankings are horribly different.
                  Was I more skilful with my hits in one season than the other, or just lucky and then making bad decisions without proper stats the following year....

                  Perhaps the variability in those 2 seasons' rankings were a manifestation of a chaotic manager ?
                  Would a deep, purely statistical approach have yielded a more consistent ranking regardless of the final finishing score?

                  Anyhow - what I do know is - it's fun!

                  Open Controls
                  1. Qubit
                    • 14 Years
                    10 years, 5 months ago

                    I see what you mean, some big variance there! I think a mostly logical approach will likely yield reasonably consistent finishes.

                    However, i think that in order to do really well you have to take some risks, by which i dont necessarily mean hits. I mean like daring to double up on both Spurs and Chelsea's defence whilst the low value mids have scored well and knowing (or getting lucky) when to get off that and hopefully luck out with the next thing.

                    Personally i could probably take a little of my own advice, but its not without risks of a low finish - last year i got it horribly wrong and struggled to get my rank even vaguely respectable at the end.

                    Open Controls
                    1. Colonel Wasabi
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 10 Years
                      10 years, 5 months ago

                      I do try to be logical at all times.... Obviously sometimes my logic must be 'fuzzy' !

                      Open Controls
                      1. Qubit
                        • 14 Years
                        10 years, 5 months ago

                        Looks to be working though - 40k is a good rank at this point in the season 🙂

                        Open Controls
                        1. Colonel Wasabi
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 10 Years
                          10 years, 5 months ago

                          Cheers!
                          Hope it lasts like 11/12

                          If I doesn't - the rest of team UAE will be pinning out my body on a rock in the Yemeni desert and smearing it with honey 😮

                          Open Controls
                      2. Colonel Wasabi
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 10 Years
                        10 years, 5 months ago

                        ...and to pick up on saying it was 'luck - Zab (c) in GW2' .... I did reason my choice out in my own mind....so I felt like I was being logical... although I'm not sure that it would have stood up to statistical scrutiny by the experts that week.
                        Oh dear - I thought I understood what I was saying :-/

                        Time for a knob gag.....

                        Open Controls
        2. thetinkerman
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Well the membership isn't expensive and if FPL is something you already spend quite a bit of time doing, I would definitely say it is worth the investment!

          Open Controls
          1. bitterandstout
              10 years, 5 months ago

              well said!

              Open Controls
            • GREENDREAMS11
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Mark, Why are you calling yourself Tinkyuchenko ?

              Open Controls
              1. thetinkerman
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                😆

                you can call me tinkerman 😉

                I would just like to be clear, I don't benefit in any way - directly or indirectly - if people get the membership or not. I am just an enthusiastic member 😉

                Open Controls
            • Mr. Perfectionist
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Definitely considering it for next year. The thing is there's already so much for the non members, Im not sure im going to use tables and stats to make my decisions although sometimes I wish that it would be handy if I had access to them

              Open Controls
          2. GREENDREAMS11
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Sometimes a long informed stat based post can get lost too. Its pretty much the luck of the draw with posts and replies.. Ive asked what i thought were grwat questions, no replies, Re-posted it and still no reply. On other occasions posted nonsense and got 7-8 replies. Its how it goes sometimes.

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              I guess if your question appeals to people directly, it gets more responses.

              I think it also depends on the time of day you post!

              Open Controls
        3. Heels_Over_Head
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          with all the great responses, why isn't this a hot topic

          quite possibly the most interesting conversation of the day

          Open Controls
          1. GREENDREAMS11
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            +1

            Open Controls
          2. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I'm too busy keeping up with the replies! 😉 Also not sure if drawing attention to this thread is in the spirit of the original post.

            Open Controls
            1. Qubit
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Funny you should say that, but ive wondered that. And also about my participation in the post as a 'lurker'. (dont think im a lurker, more like an irregular.)

              Good topic though, and overall i think the effect should be positive. 🙂

              Open Controls
              1. FantaCity
                • 11 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                an 'Irregular' ... like that a lot. I'm one of those for sure 🙂

                Open Controls
                1. thetinkerman
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 12 Years
                  10 years, 5 months ago

                  Yep, I'd agree with that 🙂

                  Open Controls
              2. thetinkerman
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                I have seen you posting before, I'd definitely say you're an "irregular"

                Open Controls
            2. GREENDREAMS11
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              It is, you got lots of people talking dude, well done.

              Open Controls
            3. ThreeLeftFeet
              • 13 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Very enjoyable thread. I don't comment often, because I seldom have anything of value to say - that is, I seldom have information that isn't already generally available, and if I were to comment it would just be my opinion, which, without any special insight, has no particular value.

              If I do have something useful to add (maybe on the economics of transfers, or on statistics; areas where I might be very slightly better informed than the average player), I do comment.

              Open Controls
              1. thetinkerman
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                Fair enough. All killa no filla 😉

                Open Controls
        4. BucketHead
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Hi I just joined a short while ago to get the inside scoop for my ff team,I find all the articles and comments help me mould my team each week..I only started to play this game last season and won two mini leagues so obviously now I'm hooked,although struggling this yr.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Keep going! It's early yet, many of the most accomplished of FPL players are having a stinker.

            Open Controls
            1. BucketHead
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Oh I'll keep goin this year,already played the Wildcard and takin hits regularly..but hey I now have a decent team and suspect there will be a lot of un interested players in my work mini league by Christmas so I will soon rise the ranks..thanks and once again I find most of my questions are already covered by others on this..keep up the good work men

              Open Controls
        5. Colonel Wasabi
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          My posts just disappeared.
          Am I being moderated ?

          In answer to the topic
          a) No longer a lurker and glad to contribute to a site that has given me years of pleasure.
          b) Previous hesitation in posting...confidence mainly. Hard to give opinions when you feel like there are other experts in the field. You have hunches but aren't sure they always stand up to minute scrutiny and so let others do the talking ?

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Might be an automatic filter playing up that got you. Not sure.

            Agree with the thing about confidence, but if you follow the latest developments and have access to the members area, there's no reason why your opinion is any less valid.

            Open Controls
            1. Colonel Wasabi
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              That's the enjoyment of the hunches too though ....
              You can do the research and feel completely statistically bombproof - but chaos theory then kicks in 😉

              Looking forward to scraping deeper than the surface nevertheless. Best £15 I spent this year.

              Open Controls
        6. BuK II
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Seems like a good opportunity to make my first comment!

          I am generally quite content reading the articles, following the discussions and using the Member tools. I am not all that sure what I would gain from asking questions/advice as I usually see an RMT very similar to mine or a Player A>Player B that I am considering given the number of posts.

          On the flip side, with a highest rank of just under 40k I am not sure who on here would want my advice!

          I keep meaning to get involved in the match day chat but in recent weeks have not been online much over the weekend.

          Open Controls
          1. GREENDREAMS11
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Matchday is possibly the worst day to post due to traffic Buk but with a rank of under 40k you are in the top 2 % of people who play the game. You have good reason to offer an opinion, day what you think and dont be afraid to back it up, I give my opinion all the time and have a chequered history as far as ranking goes, but its what I think and that matters to me if not anyone else.

            Open Controls
            1. BuK II
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Matchday on here is useful for sorting the important from the irrelevant! As a lower league fan I am not that fussed about the results - just who got the assists/BPs etc! 😀

              The rank wasn't too clear. That was my highest pre-FFS final rank (a couple years ago). Currently not doing all that well (just outside 500k) but there are a lot of very good players struggling this year so I still have faith!

              FWIW, I am sure I would be more active in my student days, especially given how interesting some of the late night discussions are. RL, eh?!

              Open Controls
          2. Qubit
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            If the advice and the reasoning is sound i for one would read it. Perhaps thats the message that should be taken from this discussion - dont let the cliques that inevitably arise on all internet fora put you off posting 🙂

            Open Controls
          3. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Welcome!

            I actually find some of the most interesting discussion takes place early in the week once the dust settles and people start planning in earnest for the following week.

            A rank of 40k this season is good, as I mentioned above, many seasoned veterans are struggling with much, much lower ranks.

            Open Controls
        7. ViperStripes
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Great topic - got lots of replies and still not a HOT TOPIC c'mon mods 😉

          I've been on here 4 years I think and still get ignored most of the time. I contribute where I think I can add some opinion but mostly respond to the should I do A, B or C type posts because those are the ones I want people to respond to when I do them. I would say 90% of my posts are ignored and get no response. Can be very frustrating.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            To be completely honest (and I can only speak for myself), I find "A, B or C" type posts quite boring to read when there is no discussion or explanation of thought process and would definitely be more inclined to reply if I had a bit of a discussion to continue in my reply.

            PS I certainly recognise your grav and username

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              PPS I am a mod and I think I will hot-topic it after all 🙂

              Open Controls
              1. J0E
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                Too late .... just done it. 🙂

                Open Controls
                1. thetinkerman
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 12 Years
                  10 years, 5 months ago

                  nice choice for the title 😉

                  Open Controls
        8. The3rdTurd
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I don't think the Scout help themselves by encouraging every comment to be posted under the most recent article.

          This means a diverse variety of posts and users rubbing shoulders with each other in the same space. So the witty banter, Southampton's clean sheet potential, off topic run of the mill randomness, what's on TV tonight, RMTs, player A or player B, in depth statistical analysis of players, beach volleyball, discussions over formations, I hate Nate/Forca/(insert name of latest pantomime villain), value for money discussions, is Breaking Bad the best show ever, ... all gets lumped into a single article, which makes it more difficult than it needs to be, to find the posts which are relevant for whatever mood you happen to be in at any given time.

          If they tried to encourage these different types of post to be segregated a bit more, it would (in my view) definitely make the place more relevant and encourage more discussion.

          Just my opinion, I know a lot of people think otherwise (and quite strongly so).

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Fair enough, I have also mentioned separating content in the past as an idea.

            I'm not sure that the scouts actively encourage people to comment on the newest articles though. In fact, with the hot topic function now available, it means old discussions can continue across articles, which was something us mods actively try to encourage.

            Open Controls
            1. The3rdTurd
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              It's a valiant attempt, but I'm not sure the hot topic function has been wholly successful in maintaining discussion for hours or even days whilst the latest discussion moves several pages or even articles into the future.

              I think the reason for that is precisely because 99% of posts (I just made up that number, but it can't be far wrong) are posted to the most recent couple of pages of the most recent article. Anything older than that rapidly becomes ancient history.

              Group the different types of post into their own areas such that there are several places where comments are 'live', and this problem is drastically reduced.

              Open Controls
              1. Colonel Wasabi
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                That's a fair point.
                I do notice that there seems to be a pattern of "new topic uploaded" and then everyone shuffles off to continue adding multifarious subjects on the next topic.

                It can be hard to filter through sometimes..and nascent discussions are very quickly left behind........but then it rewards people who invest their time in browsing the pages.

                Yang & yin

                Open Controls
                1. thetinkerman
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 12 Years
                  10 years, 5 months ago

                  Very much agree with your last point. I often continue discussions on hot topics long after the "crowd" have moved onto the next page or even article

                  Open Controls
                  1. The3rdTurd
                    • 12 Years
                    10 years, 5 months ago

                    I try to, but it's difficult when most people are much less inclined to 'stay behind' and dwell on the matter.

                    Open Controls
                  2. Colonel Wasabi
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    10 years, 5 months ago

                    ....but with such a fast moving site - if others don't think anyone else is going to go back a couple of pages to carry on a discussion - they won't post and things either get repeated 2 pages later, or dry up.

                    Take this discussion - great stuff....and the hot topic link will have roped people into giving it a look back-a-page and making it a really interesting thread.

                    Open Controls
              2. thetinkerman
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                Fair enough.

                Perhaps it's something that could happen later down the line. The site is always developing and evolving and I can assure you that the guys behind the scenes are always working really hard to improve it.

                Open Controls
                1. Colonel Wasabi
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  10 years, 5 months ago

                  Indubitably 😀

                  Open Controls
                2. The3rdTurd
                  • 12 Years
                  10 years, 5 months ago

                  I know, and I do appreciate their efforts. I wouldn't bother to stick around otherwise 🙂

                  It just seems to me like an obvious and relatively easy route to improving the relevance and level of discourse.

                  Open Controls
          2. GREENDREAMS11
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Naw dude, Good idea, i don't have sky and cant watch Breaking bad. Would like to cut to the chase sometimes. Like a book index, what pahe do you want to join at ? Sosimple to follow

            This weeks RMTs. Pages 1-5
            Team clean sheet potential.................... 6-9
            T.V. Schedule 08/10/13 ...................... 10-14
            Dislike Nate/Forca............................. .14-14.5
            "

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              pages 10-14.5 😆

              Open Controls
              1. GREENDREAMS11
                • 14 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                😉

                Open Controls
        9. Brouhaha
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I try and post things but the honest fact of the matter is that im not as good at ff than a lot of the ppl on here so mainly just lurk. I try anf give my opinion here and there anf aso for an RMT every few weeks but mainly just read whats going on. People being rude or sarcastic when you're asking a genunine question are a big turn off for me and probably partly why i dont post more.

          But i like that Forca fella, he keeps me entertained although i followed his arnautovic advice weeks ago and it hasnt worked out so far!

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Sorry to hear that. I can't say why people react like that without seeing the context but I think there's plenty of good advice in this particular hot topic thread to avoid that!

            Open Controls
        10. thetinkerman
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Thanks for all the replies everyone.

          I'm off to bed now but I will keep checking back for comments so feel free to add your voice to the discussion if you haven't already!

          Open Controls
        11. Pepereina Pizza
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I think my primary goal when I log in here (probably 5x per week) mainly to CONSUME information/data/opinion, rather than to share it. This site has been a bookmark ever since i found it 2 seasons ago.
          I am a paying member, and the stats I had been cobbling together from FPL, ESPN, etc, are all here in one place. it's a fantastic and efficient way to make decisions about lineups, transfers, hits, upcoming schedules... anything you could want.

          I do spend time commenting on RMT's, but as you said earlier, having any kind of discussion is difficult on gamedays. I'm a lurker unless it's time for DZ...
          to answer OP's question, i don't know that there's anything about the site preventing me from posting more often, other than my own preference.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks for replying 🙂

            Open Controls
        12. Frosti
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I think its difficult to get a reply if you time the post wrong, plenty i'm sure have posted once, been ignored and not bothered after that.

          Open Controls
          1. FantaCity
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Thought I'd reply, just incase you're posting just the once, and have been ignored 😉

            Open Controls
          2. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Yep I must say the biggest shortcomings are during the busy periods. I can't imagine how I would cope if I were based in the UK. The mornings and late evenings would probably be the only periods where proper discussions could take place. As soon as the pages start flying by every 10 minutes its probably better to not even bother.

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              This can definitely be a problem

              Open Controls
        13. Siegfried Sassoon
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Not interested in posting here. This place is a sausage fest.

          Open Controls
          1. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            We need more females, no doubt about that.

            Open Controls
          2. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            What website about fantasy football wouldn't be? Mostly only men are obsessive enough to play such a game 😉

            Open Controls
        14. Cracked Egg
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I just scan through the pages like an absolute machine and ensure that i never enter the ring on a friday or saturday and rarely ask questions, thats my fill. Aaaan i pay a membership!!

          Why? Because everything is a matter of opinion on this site. When a discussion reels, that is when you start to find hidden gems, not asking a one dimentional question to a wide range of 'experts'.

          Trust your gut, get a feel of the common ideas of the posters and crack on with your day.

          If you would like to be a fully fledged 'legend' of the FFS posting boards the get yourself a 'grav', find some average whitty remarks, learn to type fast/check emails/refresh page at blistering speeds and over time you will become an 'expert'

          Open Controls
          1. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            By no means would I consider a regular poster an expert over those that don't post. In fact I find the some of the most interesting posts are done by posters that are more irregular. Often they offer different opinions to the standard poster who have become mainstream in their FFS opinions.

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              This.

              Open Controls
          2. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            To get the true insight into topics that matter to me in FPL, I find I often have to initiate a discussion and often feel I have to challenge the consensus to establish whether it is one based on a well-researched information or just on hearsay.

            I would say the people you describe in your last paragraph often aren't experts at all.

            Open Controls
        15. Ryan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Interesting discussion, fantastic hot topic. It reminds me of when I first joined two years ago and what it was like to 'get in' with the crowd. Here's a few tips for how anyone new can quickly become established on this site.

          - Start by posting regularly at a particular period of the day. Soon you will become recognised and you will get more responses as you become a familiar face (Gravs also help).

          - Give an opinion, no matter how daft you might think it is, many posters are fairly open minded and are willing to listen to your point of view. Often the more 'alternative' it is the more interesting the discussion. Don't be afraid of differing opinions.

          - Respond to others with your genuine opinion. Even if its simply, "I like those moves, go for it". This board thrives when we all respond to each other. Intern you will likely get more responses yourself as you are seen to give as much as you receive.

          This is just the beginning and like anything building relationships take a bit of effort. Once those are forged you will receive plenty more responses and you might be more inclined to post more regularly.

          Open Controls
          1. Billy Manchester
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I used to be a regular in these parts many moons ago - oh the stories I could tell you youngsters...

            Anyway, I can honestly say I never once posted a sane word, yet was accepted like a brother.

            (The kind that lives in the loft and is rarely spoken of)

            Open Controls
            1. Gnu
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Eh, didn't you have a biscuit fetish or something like that.. and hang around with 'yer Dad' ? 🙂

              Open Controls
            2. Ryan
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Ahh, yes different personalities are always welcome, simply to jaz things up a bit. I always enjoy talking to Megatron in the early hours completely drunk. It never fails to amuse.

              Open Controls
        16. SilkySkills
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I post on a couple of Liverpool forums and i love my fantasy football so decided to post on here. Haven't had any issue with the people on here who have been helpful and understanding of my questions and made me feel quite welcome. Once you understand how to take people on the internet you should be ok on most forums.
          I guess the reason why i don't bother with a membership is because it's just a game and i feel i have a decent enough understanding of football to take the challenge on.
          I also don't see what benefits it could possible have for a casual such as myself when the game is pretty random anyway.

          15 quid is expensive these day's and it's only for a fantasy football game.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I can't totally disagree with you're point of view, FPL and football in general is pretty random, but there are patterns that can be identified over the course of a season it's no coincidence that certain players constantly end up in the top 0.5% (something like the top 10k). I found simply watching football and looking at the chances players get/create and then backing it up with some simple stats drastically improved my success.

            Open Controls
        17. SilkySkills
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          If it were a fiver i would probably sign up but 15 quid is too expensive.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            It's not expensive for what is on offer and the potential uses it has, but if you simply don't use the site much and aren't that serious of an FPL player, I can understand that you might not get the value out of it.

            Open Controls
        18. NASL Shootout
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          After two years of non-stop lurking (non-member, no profile), I joined this year and have posted a little, but I find it tough.

          My time zone probably isn't great for evening posters (west coast) and usually whenever I'm on, whatever topic I'm keen to hear views on has been hashed over pretty extensively by a lot of expert posters. Hot topics have helped a little, but I get pretty much no traction posting on old threads and don't feel I'll get many takers with a duplicate post.

          I don't really like posting RMTs/questions - would rather chip in on an existing discussion, but struggle to find the right topic at the right time.

          Still love the site, although I'll note that my FPL performance has imploded since I went from lurker to member this year.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Many seasoned veterans are struggling this year, so don't worry about that, it's early yet.

            Often the best times to post are outside of peak UK times, so 11pm-6pm GMT weekdays and 12pm-9am weekends.

            I started by lurking for a long time, then tentatively joined in some discussions and eventually got the confidence to start challenging the views of other posters. Now I am one of the most active commenters on here and a moderator.

            Open Controls
          2. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Every time zone works. I find the deadzone is the most interesting time to post because the page will last a few hours giving time for proper discussion and debate to develop. Obviously its a little too slow during international breaks but it can be lively enough during the week.

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              I like logging on at the end of the DZ when I wake up and I'm eating breakfast and getting ready for work.

              The afternoons are also usually quite good too when it's quiet at work.

              Open Controls
        19. Anti Top Four
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Good question

          here are a few reasons (in no particular order):

          1. My posts have been shot down
          2. My team / credentials have been challenged
          3. I'm too lazy / slow to have to explain / prove myself thus changing the tone of dialogue
          4. The topics change so fast

          Note: due to self-imposed restrictions, I don't field any players from last season's top four clubs...I am ranked in top 2000 (lucky start), finiahed top 20, 000 w/restrictions (at one point in top 400)...

          Open Controls
          1. Anti Top Four
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I must add wehn my questions have been directly to one of the regulars, they've been very helpful...the site, imo, is great for info

            Open Controls
          2. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Sounds like a fun challenge! The scoutcast team is also doing that and is doing better than many on this site!

            http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/2276203/event-history/7/

            I would recommend a picture: go to http://en.gravatar.com/ and sign up with the same email address as you use here and upload a picture.

            Many people don't reply (or unfortunately reply negatively) to those who just some on to post RMTs. I don't know what kind of things you post so I can't say if that's the reason, but I would certainly say that joining in ongoing discussions is a good way to get involved.

            Open Controls
            1. Anti Top Four
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Tinkyuchenko, thanks for the reply, advice and topic. So, the scoutcast team has the same restrictions? Amazing!

              http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/20830/event-history/7/

              As far as an avatar, I'm too lazy to be honest (and I don't necessarily feel secure using such software).

              When I posted in past years, I always noted the self-restrictions for clarity, which often became the subject - rather than the post. Also, I was advised, as you did, to add a gravatar and link my team...to which I gave the same answer as above...more so, to pave the way, I always commented and answered numerous posts before posting my own..

              Anyhow, I've been content and satisfied with just reading the site's posts

              Open Controls
          3. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah its certainly not good if people are rude, I can understand how that can be off putting. I think there are certain times in the day that might tend to be worse than others. Posting when pages aren't flying by might be a good option so there will be more time for proper discussion to develop.

            Open Controls
        20. TokyoRed 東京赤
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Great conversation. I'd just encourage people to throw their opinion out, it is as valid as anyone else's.

          Especially this season when "we" are all wrong. And I'm not even sure if I am "we" or "they" but don't let it stop you posting.

          Open Controls
        21. Chiogum
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I am usually busy reading other peoples comments and opinions

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            There is a lot to soak up sometimes!

            Open Controls
          2. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Do you sort by comment rating and read the first page of an article? I do that regularly to get the best opinions of the day (hopefully).

            Open Controls
            1. Chiogum
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              I just read everything on the current page. plus the hot topic links. This time my team is in the top million.

              Open Controls
        22. nedfoo
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Ah, finally made it to the bottom 😉

          Enjoyed 'lurking' in on this discussion Tinkerman

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            It's still going strong!

            Open Controls
        23. The one who has a knock
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Having been a lurker for the lady few years, I am making an effort to get more involved this season.
          I do try and give advice where I feel I have an opinion, but don't tend to ask for much as I generally make my decisions through reading a lot of the posts and the articles.
          The hot topics are a great help to find the interesting topics (eg, this one), and I would probably post more if there was a forum type set up with topic threads.

          Open Controls
          1. The one who has a knock
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Ugh *last not lady. Another reason I don't post much - ipad autocorrect.

            Open Controls
          2. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks for the feedback!

            Open Controls
        24. FISSH
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          when I first starting using this site I never even read the comments, just the articles. Maybe some people do that.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah, I totally get that, but there are many people here who have replied that have usernames and gravs and in a lot of cases are paying members too who I bet do read the comment section but never post. It's those guys I am interested in!

            Open Controls
        25. Brutus619
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Timing is definitely everything if you post with the intention of starting a discussion. Pre season and early on I was a hot topic hunter. I would spend upwards of an hour writing my YouTube player analysis and player reviews and really wanted the reward of a hot topic partially because of a geeky need for research validation, but also because I wanted to help as many as people possible with my
          research. sometimes my posts got completely blanked (pages flying by) and others they got a positive response but no hit topic (no mods around), so I started waiting for mods to comment a few times on other posts before unleashing my own as I knew they would see it. I've almost always got a hot topic on those posts since.

          This is one of the most interesting hot topic posts I've read in a while.

          Two suggestions to greatly improve the site:

          *hot topic archive with a search bar (I still link some people to my old hot topics and they're really grateful

          *comments search bar

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks for the feedback.

            You will be pleased to know that both things you mentioned are under development as far as I am aware.

            I think waiting for a quiter period and waiting for a new page is a good way to get replies. I do go back the last few pages and reply, but many don't.

            Open Controls
        26. GreenWindmill
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Just about read all this now - intriguing stuff from start to finish and some real food for thought for everyone involved I think - lurkers, regulars, mods, admin...

          What's you next question Tinky? Hope it's a good one 😉

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            A or B

            A) Wally and Soldado
            B) Palinho and Giroud + cash

            😉

            Open Controls
            1. Colonel Wasabi
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              No comment

              😀

              Open Controls
            2. GreenWindmill
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              😆

              B every time!

              Open Controls
        27. M Heaney
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          What could I say. Although I have been playing 3 years,I still know little and play badly,so I read what the experts say.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Watch out for those guys who are convinced they know what they are talking about but can't actually back it up with any evidence to support their arguments.

            Open Controls
        28. MDynamite
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I have attempted somewhat to get involved but the 'comments' system on this site just doesn't appeal to me. As a busy working man it is too much effort to get involved with the community with this current system in place. I come from a history of being active either posting or moderating on web forums which have their own specific threads for different topics. It was easy to post regularly on my previous forum (neoseeker.com) because the forum was separated into different sections and everything was organised.

          On here it is just one long list of comments after a contributor has updated a new post. I get lost reading through them most of the time, and usually there are at least 5 different discussions going on at once.

          How easy would it be to implement a forum onto this site? People can start their own threads about specific topics and everything would have a bit more of a structure. For me this site is very useful for Fantasy Football intelligence but it is hard scrolling through pages and pages of tripe (most of the time) in order to find some interesting discussions. The implementation of 'Hot Topics' was a good idea but could you guys go that one step further?

          Open Controls
          1. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Have you tried sorting comments by 'comment rating'. This filters the comments by rating which aims to bring up the best comments first. I understand its still not totally organised but at least it filters out most of the tripe and gets to the good discussions. I often do this as a way to skim though the discussions of the day that I miss (NZ timezone).

            Open Controls
        29. Billy Gilmore
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Greatest discussion ever. Nearly 200 replies... 😯

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Probably around 1/3 from me 🙂

            Open Controls
        30. Red Yoshi
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          This is my 1st season following FFS alongside FPL. I'm still considering whether or not I want the added benefits that a paid membership brings. So far though, reading discussions have been useful but only to an extent as I have had to learn a few lessons already.

          I follow my gut rather than subscribe to mob theory but I imagine this is a trait of the kind of person you would like to contribute. However, I did have to learn to do this the hard way. My pre-season team was set with Barkley in midfield but following a last check on here I changed to Kim as I didn't want to miss out on "possibly the next Michu". This is where I learned to always make informed decisions based on what I saw rather than what I read. I had never actually seen Kim play and to be honest I now think he's a poor footballer (by Premier League standards) having seen him a few times. Kim to Barkley was my transfer following GW1 as I quickly reverted back.

          But, I digress, my point was to try and explain that when "lurking" I now use the discussions in two main ways.

          1. Matchdays - if I see something I like from a player over the weekend I will come to see if others have latched on to the same thing or have made a good case against it.

          2. Weekdays - in quieter times when posts tend to differ from the "OMG Pilkington" style ones found on matchdays, I'll read through posts to see if someone has spotted something I hadn't over the weekend. Rather than taking their word for it though I'll now watch back and form my own opinions.

          So there's a few problems here (from Mark's/your perspective). In 1, at no point do I feel I should share what I have seen and in 2, I don't follow up with my own opinions. This is because I don't think writing something suitably substantial will be read or considered enough to be worth it as the page with my post on it will be long gone within 10-15 minutes. I do have a suggestion which I think could be a possible solution here and perhaps quite a good one. I'll describe how it may solve these problems below using the GW1 Barkley situation as an example.

          Tagging posts.

          Problem:
          I've seen Barkley and regret not sticking with him, I want to put him back in. I decide to read what others are saying first though. Flicking through page after page in the hope of finding the odd Barkley post gets frustrating. Anything I read tends to say Gibson will replace him when he's back. I disagree as they play two very different roles in the midfield. Frustrated by the time it's taken to find a few posts on the subject, I no longer want / have time to share this possibly useful opinion - how many would see it anyway, I think.

          Solution:
          Here, had people been able to tag their posts on this subject with the player's name I could have searched and found them all together in a matter of seconds. Time would have been saved and I may feel more inclined to add my thoughts knowing they would more likely be seen by those who were interested in that particular player.

          Also, it doesn't compromise those who like to read through all posts. Think of how a twitter feed works and how hashtags can help you find a particular discussion - it's a similar idea that I propose here. Any player's name could be tagged, of course, but you could also use it for things like rate my teams or this beach soccer thing that's going on. In that case you could even extend functionality to filters so that those not taking part could block out those posts.

          I know this post was long but I hope at least a few people take the time to read it, particularly those who make these kind of decisions around here.

          Oh and, for what it's worth, my final rankings in the last two years were 1,710 and 102,610.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks a lot for posting. You're the type of person we want posting so it's a shame that you don't feel that your posts would be appreciated due to the current system. I will definitely pass on your idea about tags as I think it's a good one.

            Open Controls
            1. Red Yoshi
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Thanks. I would certainly like to hear any feedback that is given on the tagging idea.

              And also, thanks for starting this discussion. I read through all of it and there are some very good responses - I hope this has provided some food for thought to those in charge.

              Open Controls
          2. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Great response and I empathise with your frustrating regarding pages that turn over too quickly. I certainly feel rather privileged to be in a time zone that affords longer and deeper discussions in the DZ.

            Open Controls
          3. Brutus619
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Tagging is a FANTASTIC idea! 🙂

            Open Controls
        31. OShaughnessy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          @Tinkerman

          Sir, I've been lurking here for 3 years & this is my first with a membership. The community has helped me greatly in my mini-league. So many thanks...

          When I first started however, I think one of the biggest obstacles was understanding some of the slang / acronyms. (e.g. WC, RMT, ML, CS, Uber, Burner v. Murner etc...)
          To veterans this is old hat but for 'casuals' it can be rather daunting.
          Therefore, I feel a moderated glossary would be great for encouraging lurkers to become more active.

          Further, I feel hints to posting would help as well.
          An 'FAQ' or 'Tips for Posters' as it were...
          Examples off the top of my head:

          - "When posting a RMT or WC it helps if you add some of the concerns your having or players you're targeting."

          - Don't post questions that the community can't possibly answer: "I'm down 11pts, have Lukaku & RVP but, my rival has Yaya do you think I'll beat him this week?"

          Finally, I feel FFS should look into helping casuals understand the how, when & why of price changes. To the new players this is often a great mystery & to the regulars it's a nuisance to repeatedly answer the same question... (e.g. "What time do price changes happen?")

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Great ideas.

            There is a glossary at the bottom of the FAQ page (http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/fantasy-football-faq-and-glossary/), but you're right, an easy to find commenting guide for new users would be good. It's been mentioned multiple times in this thread and I personally think it would not only encourage more people to comment, but would cut down on the sort of posts that people don't like/want to see.

            The guide could also contain info on price changes as you say, and this kind of thing has already been done in a hot topic a while ago.

            I'll be sure to pass on the feedback. Thanks for posting.

            Open Controls
            1. thetinkerman
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              PS, I've just noticed that the glossary is terribly out of date. I know it's on the list of things to do but I think there are more urgent matters. Maybe it can be addressed if/when the "user's guide" is written.

              Open Controls
        32. mathmo
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Great topic and great discussion - brings to light some really good points.

          I was a bit of a latecomer to this site, especially as an active participant. Like a lot of online communities, it can appear quite clique-y. It might not seem that way to regular uses, but if you tend to visit this site on occasion it seems that the very same posters keep cropping up.

          Homecrowd this year - despite the complaints - seems to have encouraged more people to speak up. Whatever you call it - looking for points, trying to get hulked, and so on - the new system has encouraged people to make meaningful contributions that are recognised by the rest of the scout community. The sort by rating and sticky filter make it much easier to pick up the interesting and insightful posts. And while there are great arguments for switching to the forum style system, the current blog-style means people do have to move on. Important discussions are highlighted, and sometimes given a mention in the weekly roundup. In the moving world of FPL, it seems sensible to have what may appear an archaic system. 'bumping' topics, flame wars that go on for pages while remaining at the top of the thread list, the list goes on. All are rendered moot in this set up, which gives a finite timespan to any discussion.

          Finally - as to why some people will never post. Perhaps it's a hark back to a century or two ago, when amateurism was the highest form of competition to an English sportsman, and anything even remotely resembling training or payment was frowned upon! People are always worried about getting found out about going on here..despite the fact that anyone who types 'fantasy premier league help' 'fantasy football tips' , 'player line ups' into google or just clicks on the scout on the FPL homepage can get here. As was mentioned a few months ago, it does make for a Shakespearean farce when the scout differentials are drafted in en-masse in a mini-league while managers feign ignorance!In all seriousness, most casual users can get their questions answered without having to post, there are enough RMT's to gain opinions on almost any reasonable player permutation.

          'Fantasy Scout mate? What's that?'

          *furtively drafts in Victor Moses*

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks Mathmo, an interesting read as always.

            A very convincing argument as to why the forum system isn't the best option for this site.

            I guess taking fantasy football seriously is becoming more popular. In the US, it has been popular for a long time as far as I can tell, so maybe FPL is catching up.

            Open Controls
        33. thepuntmaster
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I'm hardly a lurker but I think some articles sand ideas on here can be a bit hard for newbies to understand - took me most of last season !

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            The "user's guide" would help a lot here I imagine. Drawing from my memories of being a newbie, it does take a long time to get your head round what people are talking about half of the time!

            Open Controls
            1. hibster
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              bit late to this as very very ocasional poster, usually just lurk
              do find the community round up a very good post each week & that's led me here.

              i don't tend to post much as i like fantasy football
              but i don't watch football, not live, not motd, live, nothing.
              don't even support a team.
              i've been to maybe 6 games in my life
              my weekends are about a sport played with a ball of a different shape
              sorry!

              so my opinions are based on stats, past season performance, value, patterns
              not from observation

              Open Controls
        34. Demí
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          My scroll wheel's broken

          Open Controls
          1. beric
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            ha, mine too

            Open Controls
        35. diz
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I'm a very occasional poster (maybe one or two posts a week). I think that the biggest challenge for me browsing these pages is the separate the bullshit from the useful posts... To tackle this I have identified a few posters whose opinions I respect the most and I have bookmarked their profiles.

          I don't post much because the pages move so quickly and anything I post is likely to be hard thought out only to be read by a couple of people at the bottom of a page.

          I think that having threads separated into topics like traditional forums is an obvious development and one which would definitely get me posting more, as this would have the 'quality' conversation concentrated to returnable areas.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Following the profile of people who you think give good advice is a great idea. It would be good if you could filter all comments to show only users you identify as on your "watchlist".

            Thanks for the reply!

            Open Controls
        36. SpartaBhoy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I'm a very passive user. I've been using this site for years and it has been very useful and helped a lot. I tend to take a very balanced look at things and weight up the opinions of a number of people before I sort out my team. I don't tend to give my 10ps worth because usually I don't usually have time. It is difficult to get your point across quickly and concisely and invariably someone else makes the same or similar point during a discussion. I like to make my own decisions and ultimately I think others should do too. I would hate to say to someone on the site definitely captain x and then x has an absolute mare! I do enjoy some of the banter on here though. Keep up the good work one and all!

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I am very careful about giving out advice to those who simply want someone to tell them what to do! You're right that you should do what you think is best, otherwise the game is boring!

            Open Controls
        37. statto
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Well, I have been a lurker for a good 4/5 years now.

          Tend to get the info i need from others discussions. I too get irritated by the RMT's but I am able to garnish where people are going with their teams. I think it provides good insight into some of the moves available and helps me second guess people in my mini league.

          I'd suggest providing a single place/thread for RMT's, or have a poll of some sort for each position for every gameweek.

          Would help the lurkers like me, and reduce the frustration for the frequent commenters.

          Open Controls
          1. thetinkerman
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I personally don't mind RMTs when the commenter adds his thoughts and adds to the discussion.

            I personally dislike RMTs that have the following format as they don't often bring much to the table in terms of discussion, especially when they are the only thing the users posts. People tend to spot when people do this though.

            "RMT

            [team]

            0.7m in the bank, 1FT"

            Open Controls
        38. gurka
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Its a difficult question, personally I like to comment on the actual article that has been written or something in it. On this website it appears anything and everything is discussed in the comments.

          Open Controls
      13. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Urgh, I wish Gravatar would get themselves an Android mobile site. I can't change my grav and I'm not getting internet for another 2 weeks! 😡

        Open Controls
        1. Carrick Doesn't Deserv…
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          what happened with your broken key?

          Open Controls
          1. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            😯

            ... I'm getting a new one. I'm a little concerned how you know about that...

            Open Controls
            1. Carrick Doesn't Deserv…
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              you were on here drunk moaning about it! I said copy a flatmate's key and you said you were living by yourself. I remember because at the time I was wondering why someone would be living on their own... are you not lonely/bored a lot?!

              Open Controls
              1. Evans
                • 11 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                You two ... Get a room

                Open Controls
              2. Piggs Boson
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                I'm working most of the time. You can see people evenings and weekends! 🙂

                Open Controls
            2. Piggs Boson
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Ah, never mind, just remembered my drunken ramblings. Must learn to log out before I leave the flat...

              Open Controls
      14. thetinkerman
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Ivan Barkley and Ravel will be the ones most will be worried about. Luckily none of my players or immediate targets are on the list (for a change)!

        Open Controls
        1. Evans
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Got both Barkley and Ravel lol

          Open Controls
      15. Evans
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Loving Everton fixtures ..... Four home games in the next six

        If like me you can't afford Baines or Coleman I reckon Distin is good coverage at the back. He won't get attacking points but could well be in with a shout with bonus offerings

        Open Controls
        1. GYM JUNKIE
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Have the feeling that Baines will go on a rampage

          Open Controls
      16. IsThisJustFantasy?
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Stick or twist on Arnautovic? Bearing in mind I've already taken -4 on other subs and have Oscar, Michu, Ramsey as my other midfielders...... Cheers 🙂

        Open Controls
        1. GYM JUNKIE
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Stick if you already taken a hit

          Open Controls
          1. IsThisJustFantasy?
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Cheers man, 🙂

            Open Controls
        2. Evans
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Stick

          Open Controls
          1. IsThisJustFantasy?
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks for the advice - twas what I was thinking!

            Open Controls
      17. Blue Lion
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        How is Gaz Downright in two teams? o_O

        Open Controls
      18. Open Controls
        1. GYM JUNKIE
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          loool

          Open Controls
      19. Thomass
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Anyone seen ENR or daniel?

        Open Controls
        1. SPorting
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Last seen heading towards Senegal....

          Open Controls
        2. Mílanista
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          They're at the beach. Together

          Open Controls
          1. Evs
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Rubbing factor 8 on each other's backs 😎

            Open Controls
            1. Thomass
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              😆 Thomas gets the bus from the hotel to join the beach and forgets his sun cream! 😎

              Open Controls
              1. Parm
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                And his swimming trunks...

                Open Controls
                1. Thomass
                  • 11 Years
                  10 years, 5 months ago

                  Aye true! 😀

                  Open Controls
      20. FPL Blues
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I'm thinking of transferring Rooney out for Giroud and use the extra money to upgrade Collins to Terry (no hit, got 2 transfers). Any views?

        Open Controls
        1. GYM JUNKIE
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Keep Rooney

          Open Controls
      21. andres
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Migs, davis
        Vidic walker wilson coleman chester
        MIchu Sess eriksen whittingham jedinak
        Roo suarez lukaku
        2.4 in the bank, no FT

        A eriksen to oscar (-4)
        B whittingham, eriksen to januzaj, ozil (-8)
        C other (-4,-8..)

        Open Controls
      22. Rossamous
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Kinda stupidly I hit the WC today, which is a little late. I'm still gonna have fun with it though. Who can I expect from here on out to possibly catch a double rise from? So far I am looking at Amalfitiano and Januzaj. I'm going with Lukaku so that limits the possibility of catching a double rise from Sturridge or Remy. I only see Lovren or Terry as possibilities to double rise for defenders. Anyone I am leaving out?

        Open Controls
        1. GYM JUNKIE
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          yaya ramsey if you dont have them

          Open Controls
          1. Rossamous
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            The issue with this, is that I don't want to lose value on Ozil or Barkley and am bringing in Oscar (long term), plus have Amalfitiano and Janujaz. I could do Oscar to Yaya and hope that Yaya double rises before Oscar rises once but I doubt it.

            Open Controls
        2. Bad Pen
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Lallana perhaps? Could be close though.

          Open Controls
      23. AK ⭐
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Mili or Parm around?

        Open Controls
        1. Mílanista
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Yes

          Open Controls
          1. Mílanista
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Got your mail

            Open Controls
            1. AK ⭐
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Cheers. 🙂

              Open Controls
      24. Bouncebackability
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        The suspension tightrope returns?

        Lucas Leiva likes this..

        ..Only five more to go!

        Open Controls
        1. Rossamous
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          At least we don't have to worry about Suarez right away. The 6 games he missed at the beginning of the season was a beautiful thing

          Open Controls
      25. Manani
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        did Juventus had the best transfer by far in recent years?

        they got a blend of experience, youth and players in their prime.

        Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal, for only like £12m in total.

        Open Controls
        1. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Their domestic results would certainly suggest so.

          Open Controls
      26. Gaztafari
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Samed Yesil about to come on for Liverpool U21's after 10 months out injured. Future fantasy goldmine.

        Open Controls