fantasy premier league – interview with regular contributor Alex Ball

Fantasy Premier League

Here’s an interview with regular contributor and fantasy premier league commenter on the site Alex Ball.  Alex has an excellent FPL history with finishes of 28k,  3k,  54k and 14k in the last 4 years and is always well worth listening to.

fantasy premier league – interview with regular contributor Alex Ball

Hi Alex. Firstly how’s your team doing? Do you have an overall goal?

In a word; terribly! I was down to about 430K. I’m creeping back up now but its been a painful processes. I’ve found this season particularly difficult, lots of choice and my usual strategies don’t seem to be working. Bad decisions haven’t helped; selling Sanchez a few weeks before West Ham and selling Kane for a hit the week before Watford. I have to say I’ve had my fair share of bad luck as well for example, two penalty misses in a single game week and this has happened twice now!

As for a goal, this is my 10th season playing and I’m quite proud of the fact I’ve never finished outside 61k so my goal is to make sure I’m within that.

Here’s his team at the moment.  He’s currently 258k after a gameweek score of 57.  Team Value £104.7

What do you think is different about this season compared to previous seasons?

The pace of price changes has affected the way we all play the game. You and I play in a similar way; measured decisions and waiting for as long as possible to make transfers. If we want to gain team value , we have to move early this season. I’m finding that hard to adapt too. Early moves have undoubtedly cost me this year.

The sheer amount of information and making the game more mainstream, thus increasing the number of players is also meaning we are finding it harder to maintain ranks we have done in the past. I guess like all things; we have to adapt as it progresses forward or get left behind.

When are you planning on using the chips and wildcard?

I still have all my chips and wildcard available, the plan at present is to wait and use them around the double game weeks. the ‘all out attack’ chip i’ll use if and when its required.

Are you planning on bringing back Aguero?

He’s already back! I’m not sure if its a good move but with a poor rank I’m happy to have Kun in as a differential.

Are form, fixtures, underlying stats or their full season history your principle guide when making transfers in?




A combination of the first three. I also use the ‘eye test’, if I like the look of a player, i’ll follow my gut. Whilst I certainly look at previous history it doesn’t worry me to much as players form can change so much.

Pick one from each team:

Sterling, De Bruyne or Silva

Sterling if he can keep his starting birth.

Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho or Mane

Lallana now, Coutinho when he’s back and starting.

Hazard, Pedro or Costa

Costa, Hazard, Costa, Hazard. Ok Costa. Just.

Sanchez, Ozil or Walcott

Easy, Sanchez.

Eriksen, Alli or Kane

Trickier, its a little like the Liverpool midfield, they seem to be sharing the points. I’ll say Alli as he is cheapest.

What would your team be if you wildcarded tomorrow?

By the way this team is not overlayed on Alex’s team.  This was just to make it easily viewable

Quite a risky WC. I’m aiming for the big 3 up top. This might be very similar to my team in a few weeks.

How do you find watching games and catching up on news in NZ?

I tend to record the games and watch them early the following morning. Later kick offs I watch live. My wife is not happy with the amount of games I watch!

Thanks as ever for the time you put into the site, I really enjoy reading the articles. All the best for the rest of the season.

thanks very much for your thoughts Alex and good luck for GW21

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