Why play Fantasy Premier League (FPL)?
Every season, millions from around the world passionately play FPL and sometimes it’s hard to remember exactly why.
Whether you’re a new manager who has just discovered Fantasy Premier League, or a veteran manager feeling downbeat after an exhausting season, it’s a good question to ask.
Over the course of a campaign, a frightening number of hours are spent thinking about it. Pre-season planning, weekly transfers, captaincies, chip strategies, stats searching etc. Then there’s during the matches themselves. So much brain space for a game that’s all about pride rather than prizes.
During this summer break, here’s a reminder of why we love to play FPL.
PART OF A FRIENDLY COMMUNITY
Thanks to an increasing number of face-to-face events and the nice part of social media, the Fantasy community is a great place to make friends with like-minded football fans.
This is especially true for those individuals who sometimes feel a bit lonely. For example, during the Covid pandemic, FPL helped people feel connected at a time when many loved ones were dying and most work offices ceased to exist.
Some genuine lifelong friendships started with FPL and many more are about to begin.
CONVERSATION STARTER
Whether it’s with these new friends, close family members or even work colleagues, FPL is a solid water cooler topic.
Maybe there’s a long silence to break or an awkward chat that desperately needs moving away from. Just mention an Erling Haaland captaincy, a surprise Mohamed Salah benching or some questionable bonus points that were awarded.
Or perhaps you’ve moved away from home and want to stay in touch with people.
ADDS IMPORTANCE TO EVERY MATCH
To paraphrase a certain betting company, matches matter more when there’s FPL on it. Not only that, it’s a free alternative to gambling.
Being actively involved in this game brings a lot more teams and players onto your radar. It adds meaning to even the most mundane clashes.
Before long, you’re lying to your partner about why you’re repeatedly checking the phone. A stigma comes with the truth that it’s actually to see if Jack Harrison has assisted, or Alphonse Areola has yet reached three saves.
It makes us feel alive.
TRANSFERABLE LIFE SKILLS
Meanwhile, we are accidentally learning some important life skills.
Deciding how much of the £100m should go towards your defence – that’s budgeting.
Analysing the weekend’s expected goals (xG) data to see who is underachieving and surely due a goal – that’s market research.
Furthermore, FPL deadlines teach us about time management, with objective decision-making taking place on a regular basis. And the forming of chip strategies showcases an ability to forward plan.
FINALLY…. WHAT IF YOU WIN?
Mathematically, the chances of grabbing first prize are incredibly tiny. You won’t win. At all. But… maybe you will.
If so, the prizes include VIP tickets to two Premier League matches but – more importantly – you will achieve footballing immortality. Bragging rights forever.
That’s why we play FPL.
