Flight of Fantasy

Are you an Arsenal, Liverpool or <insert team of choice here> fan? Is your team disappointing you? Your manager ignoring calls to play so and so, bench so and so? Are you just not enjoying watching your team each weekend?
Let me introduce you to the fantasy premier league (FPL). Here's a place where make believe holds sway. This is the place where Friday evenings are spent.

Why else was I watching Sunderland v Reading this past week, purely because of the FPL. My pursuit for points and "value" players for upcoming weeks has resulted in my watching every single game when I get a chance. I'm constantly scouring for talent, new jewels to unearth and boost my team's point tally.

As an FPL manager, I wear many hats. I'm a scout, a manager, team bus driver, psychotherapist, team doctor and did I say manager. You get the picture. This isn't the glam and glitz of pre- and post-match interviews. It isn't the fancy half-time talks or touchline posturing, this is serious stuff. Knuckle cracking, neck cramping, crouch over your computer dilemma, because once the deadline closes, 75 minutes before the first game of the weekend there is nothing more you can do.


Unlike the "real" world, every weekend offers a fresh transfer window. Reward the point-makers,  punish those who dare not deliver and choose your style. Dare to be a tinkerer? Go crazy mixing it up week after week. Rotate your squad or wheel and deal in the transfer market. Few managers can resist the lure of making transfers and it takes a brave one to resist the temptation and stick it out with their current squad.

I'm a manager with principle of course. What would the world be without them? I don't pick players on teams LFC is playing against and I currently don't have any Toffees on my team (See I'm a classy manager).
I've seen a Manc who made Tevez captain in the Manchester derby, a Gooner who rejoiced as Berbatov put on a "3 additional bonus points" performance against Arsenal. Not in my case!

So how am I faring? I'm in several leagues but in the one that counts, the one where I'm the league moderator; I'll have you know I'm in the top four :-). In Arsene's world I'm winning a trophy this season!