Writers Under The Microscope; An FPL Interview

To fill the FPL void we have decided to grill some of our regular writers on all manner of things, from their own FPL performance to Death Row food to their favourite players. And much more inbetween. Let’s go meet them…

Thanks all for joining us, in person too! It’s always good to be able to ruffle Matt’s fluffy hair, squeeze Rosco’s biceps and just give Swirly a big hug, because he’s simply the nicest person in the world.

Let’s start with an easy and obvious one; how is your FPL season panning out for you?

Rosco –
It’s been a tough one, hasn’t it! I’ve been floundering around the 1.3 million mark for a while but I’ve jumped up to around 300k in the last two game-weeks so hopefully things are on the up!

Matt –
Terribly! To put it in one word but obviously you’ll want me to expand on that. I have managed to drop from 200k in the first two weeks to the 1 mil mark right now. I have only managed a green arrow four times this season but two of those have come in the last 3 weeks so hopefully things are getting better.

Swirly –
Surprisingly well so far, with a rank of 61k! Pretty different to this time last year when I was at about 1.8 million at this time. Fingers crossed it can continue!

What is more important to you; overall rank or ML?

Rosco –
I thought long and hard about this one! I have a couple of Mini-leagues that really matter (for pride, money or both), but if I was given the choice to finish 500k OR and win my ML or 10k OR and come second then I’d take the latter. At the end of the day, OR is what you carry with you long after the season closes, and let’s face it, a good OR often goes hand in hand with a good ML finish.

Matt –
Yeah I had to think about this because at first I would have said ML but really I am not in too many I actually care about this season. This has meant I am looking at my OR a lot more and it’s made me realise that this is the thing we need to focus on as like my brother says if your OR is good than your ML will likely follow!

Swirly –
Both are important to me, with the ML rank being the particular focus of banter between you and your mates! That said, it’s the overall rank that I look to first and, I guess, if you look after that, everything else should look after itself too.

Best transfers in?

Rosco –
I’ve made some serious errors in the transfer department this season, but the one that really paid off was Söyüncü in GW11. He was part of the hit that allowed me to get Vardy in and rewarded me with 14pts. I think its the emergence of players such as Söyüncü that are starting to see the dead teams finally fall by the wayside. Hope is not lost!

Matt –
HA! I think my slide in the ranks is proof of how my transfer policy is as bad a United’s. I have sold people just as they kicked off or brought people in too late but I would say that bringing in Söyüncü just as Leicester started on this run was my best transfer.

Swirly –
Bringing in Vardy as a punt back in Gameweek 5 has worked out very well so far. Mane and Mount deserve a shout out and, of course, you can never forget what Lundstram has brought!

Biggest regrets? FPL wise, not in life Rosco!

Rosco –
That’s cold man, real cold! This is actually an easy one to answer! I have been too stubborn this season. I made a decision in the summer to play the season with as few hits as possible, I took my first in GW3 and was so angry with myself I played my WC to cover it (when it wasn’t really needed). What a plank. I then went all the way to GW9 without another, missing out on a series of players who would have easily paid of the hits. Ultimately I ended up making moves for players I didn’t really want as they were all I could afford. I’ve taken a hit (-4) in the last two game-weeks and both have paid off, gaining me an additional 30 points and the aforementioned OR boost I was in desperate need of!

Matt –
It will seem like I am copying Rosco but I am honestly telling the truth here. I have been stubborn all season not bringing in Lundstram, much to the bemusement of Kop, not signing Pukki till the party was ending and this had led me to really miss out on some serious points! I would say that around GW9 I decided to start doing whatever the hell I wanted, hits be damned! This has meant taking a -4 nearly every week since but it has paid off in the most part and I believe I was only below the average score once and that was only due to the -4. I think this is a pattern I may keep up but I do have the WC still in my pocket so that may come out eventually.

Swirly –
Bringing in Aurier and then seeing him get a red card pretty much straight away was a right kick in the teeth! With him coming out the next gameweek, that then worked out as a net -2. He is now on my list of FPL shame, joining the likes of Lacazette and Walcott. On the plus side, he made way for Tomori who has been doing well since.

Anyone you’ve spotted who we are all overlooking?

Rosco –
I don’t think it’s possible with all the information available to spot a player before anyone else. Or perhaps it is and I’m just not very good at it!

Matt –
Why would I tell you guys?! If I had spotted someone that everyone is ignoring then wouldn’t I want to keep it to myself? No, that’s not my style. I love a differential and as we all know whenever I do an article I stick in some sort of differential. There isn’t too many people kept under the radar but two players I am keeping an eye on as differentials is McNeil of Burnley and Mousset of Sheffield. McNeil has a goal and 5 assists this season and Mousset has 3 goals and 3 assists this season.

Swirly –
I like to think that the likes of Kane and Aubameyang will suddenly become FPL gold in the near-distant future as Arsenal and Spurs’ next four fixtures look good. But, being players for those two North London clubs – and what they are going through – I’m not holding my breath!

PREDICTION TIME

Who will win the league?

Rosco –
Steve Bruce’s Black and White Army… certainly won’t. Liverpool looks like the team to beat, it will be nice if they can do it, just to cheer Kop up for all those ‘terrible’ seasons he’s had to endure!

Matt –
I want to say Liverpool but I am terrified of jinxing it! They look brilliant this season and City are struggling with injuries and as Kompany tried to say at the weekend he thinks Liverpool would struggle if they had any injuries but Keano put him in his place by reminding him of Allison being gone from GW1 to GW9 so hopefully that will be the only injury this season!

Swirly –
Pep seems to be even more stubborn than usual and it appears to be to the detriment of his team this season. Mendy should be starting, not least because of the different to Sterling’s FPL points when he plays! Klopp, meanwhile, has carried on with his feel good brand of football and needs to keep up the wins, even with that cushion at the top. To conclude, I think it’s Liverpool’s this season.

Top 4?

Rosco –
Liverpool
City
Leicester
Chelsea

Matt –
Liverpool
City
Leicester
Chelsea
Not necessarily saying it will be that order though!

Swirly –
Liverpool
City
Chelsea
Leicester

Who’s getting relegated?

Rosco –
Norwich
Watford
Villa (Sorry Swirly!)

Matt –
I would have to agree with Rosco here. Southampton may get swept into it with Watford maybe turning it around but it will be tight.

Swirly –
Southampton
Norwich
Watford
(Brighton could also run close and I believe Villa will JUST stay up!)

Top scorer (goals)?

Rosco –
Tammy Abraham

Matt –
Jamie Vardy

Swirly –
Sadio Mane

Top assister?

Rosco –
KDB for sure

Matt –
One of the Liverpool fullbacks

Swirly –
KDB

Top FPL scorer (points)?

Rosco –
It’s a bit early to know for sure, but I think Mane could take Salah’s crown this season!

Matt –
I would say Mane but I would actually love if Vardy was up there!

Swirly –
I can see Sterling turning things around and being up there, but Mane is the man to beat at a third of the way through the season at least. No reason why it can be any different come Gameweek 38.

PERSONAL PREFERENCES

Favourite drink?

Rosco –
Irn Bru all the way, I go through litres of the stuff! Goes great with Vodka too… please drink responsibly kids!

Matt –
Tough one, if we are talking alcohol then Coors Light but if not then it would have to be Coke, which also goes well with Vodka!

Swirly –
Thatchers Gold cider – other apple-based beverages are available.

Death Row meal?

Rosco –
Death Row? Yikes, what did I do!? Probably an M&S supplied Christmas dinner! I have one every week (I’m not making this up) and of course the obligatory glass of Champers!!

Matt –
Damn! I’m not like you auld fellas I’m not as close to death as you are so haven’t given it much thought! It would probably be something like fried chicken!

Swirly –
Has to be a cheeky Nando’s!

Favourite player ever, you can have 3….

Rosco –
I used to love Peter Beardsley but he’s a bit of a controversial choice these days! Bobby Lee and the handsome David Ginola will always have a special place in my heart, but the one who always pops into my head is the highly talented and extremely bonkers Tino Asprilla.

Matt –
That’s four Rosco, stop cheating! I have to say my favourite of all time and the one who made me both a Liverpool fan and a football fan was Stevie G. The passion he had was unbelievable and I was in awe! If I really had to pick another two then I would have to say Ronaldinho because of that contagious smile and his silky-smooth skills. After that I would probably say Francesco Totti, what a player he was and stayed loyal to Roma no matter who came looking for him!

Swirly –
I always have fond memories of Alan Shearer and Ronaldo from back in the day (I only started getting into football when I was about ten) with the 1998 World Cup particularly standing out to me. Fast forward to now and Lionel Messi is my favourite current player.

Best player you’ve seen live.

Rosco –
Thierry Henry was something special, but for who he’s gone on to be, it has to really be Christiano Ronaldo. Unreal.

Matt –
Not seen too many live soccer games unfortunately but I would have to say Luis Suarez. He is such as great player if only he didn’t get hungry during matches!

Swirly –
I had the privilege of watching Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Camp Nou, back in 2013. The Catalan starting XI was Messi, Neymar Jr, Sanchez (back when he was good), Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Correia and Victor Valdes, whilst the visiting side featured Griezmann along with, funnily enough, Claudio Bravo. Obviously not the only time he’s let in a good few goals! Messi was unreal in that match and so he is my pick. Fond memories.

And the worst….

Rosco –
Michael Owen, he was a waste of shirt and everything that is wrong with the modern game. (Yes I am a little bitter).

Matt –
Any player from my local club, Longford Town? No, don’t know who they are… I don’t blame you! I love them but they are no Liverpool. I would probably have to say Sebastian Coates, I try and forget he was a Liverpool player.

Swirly –
As a Villa fan, there’s a good few horrendous players to choose between. Personnel who may have been good in the past have not done well in claret and blue – and then there are others who were just pants. Micah Richards and Yacouba Sylla are up there, but the notorious Boško Balaban wins it.

AND FINALLY

Captain this week?

Rosco –
It’s on Vardy at the minute, feel he’s earned it but I’ll no doubt bludgeon myself to death with stats before I make my final decision next week!

Matt –
It’s on Vardy right now but may change to Salah if I bottle it!

Swirly –
Yep, Vardy is my captain at the moment too!

Thanks for reading Writers Under The Microscope; An FPL Interview.

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