Coupled with reading interviews and purchasing match tickets, soccer fans are some of the most loyal consumers around. Another preference for many soccer-loving supporters is the opportunity to embark on a Fantasy Premier League gaming marathon over the entire season. In fact, it’s a huge part of the campaign for so many fans of the beautiful game.
What is Fantasy Premier League?
For people who aren’t aware of Fantasy Premier League, it’s a fairly simple game that is free to play and fun to tackle. Essentially, each person has a squad of Premier League players to select at the start of the season, with a £100 million budget at their disposal. Then, ahead of every set of fixtures, they can make transfers and choose the starting lineup they believe is going to score goals, register assists, keep clean sheets, and ultimately bring in the most points. The points each player accumulates then go towards their overall fantasy points score for that particular week. Managers are also part of mini leagues with friends or they can attempt to finish top of the tree in the overall rankings. Also known as FPL, there is more to it but that’s the basic premise of Fantasy Premier League.
Over the course of the season, FPL managers also read up on statistics and listen to podcasts in an attempt to give them the edge on their rivals. Alongside watching highlights, reading match previews, and assessing any betting opportunities, playing Fantasy Premier League is a key part of the Premier League’s overall package. A game where fans attempt to silence their loved ones with a team of high-scoring professionals, it’s extremely popular among the soccer community.
While Fantasy Premier League is a game that is played globally, not everyone is necessarily sold on it, though. So, whether you’re new to English soccer or you adore iconic clubs like Liverpool, here are some notable reasons why Fantasy Premier League could also be for you.
Unleash the manager in you
Football fans are full of opinions about team selections and tactics. As such, managers are always facing scrutiny for the decisions they make. Essentially, many fans think they know better than a manager with vast experience who is working with the players he has at his disposal on a daily basis. These same fans then relish the opportunity to experience life as managers for themselves, albeit in a small way. Fans can unleash the manager within them, perhaps by tweaking the system they employ to include more strikers or by predicting specific players to shine against certain opposition. A game where big calls can help record big scores, fantasy managers simply love putting their knowledge to the test. Should they fail to make the right decisions, though, then a sacking isn’t on the agenda. Instead, they’ll plummet down the table and get hammered in the WhatsApp group.
It makes the experience of watching the action even better
Another notable reason why millions of people around the world indulge in some Fantasy Premier League adventures throughout a typical season is undoubtedly because it elevates the supporter experience even further. Alongside the end-to-end action on the pitch and the entertainment it provides, FPL managers are even more invested in the game if they know a player they’ve selected or even captained is taking part. Should Erling Haaland score two goals, then the manager in question who decided to captain the Norwegian goal machine will be in a buoyant mood. Alternatively, though, should another manager opt to captain Mohamed Salah and witness him being carried off the pitch after sustaining a serious injury, then it could ruin their weekend. When you immerse yourself in fantasy football and have players to get behind, it makes you watch more of it.
A great community to be a part of
From podcasts and YouTube channels to accounts on X and Instagram, there is an abundance of Fantasy Premier League content out there. A great ice-breaker at parties and ideal to bring up when you’re discussing sport with friends, FPL-themed discussions are generally always welcome. Even if your friends aren’t interested in Ollie Watkins’ high-scoring potential or Brentford’s ability to grind out clean sheets, there are so many communities you can join online and expert FPL managers you can lean on for advice over the season. Overall, in the same way that gamers in other areas join communities on Reddit and various forums to discuss gaming-related topics, the Fantasy Premier League community is just as passionate and always willing to welcome new managers to the party.
It requires a few different skills
If you’re a stickler for the finer details, then FPL management could appeal to you. In the game, managers enjoy solving the various issues that come their way, with many people turning to deep statistical analysis to help them nail their picks. To create the best team for the week ahead, managers essentially have to focus on so many aspects, be it tactics, some math, and even psychology given the mental challenges professional soccer players face throughout a typical season. A bit of a puzzle that requires different skills, it’s therefore a challenge many people relish taking on given the different factors that can come into play. It isn’t simply a case of picking the biggest and best players all the time, instead there are so many elements to consider that can determine the outcome on a particular weekend.
Who doesn’t like to win?
Above all else, FPL appeals to people who simply love to win. Sure, it’s nice coming in the top 5 and recording some big scores over the season, but the main objective for any soccer-loving FPL manager is to triumph at the end of the campaign when the scores are final. With victorious managers earning the bragging rights and banter ensuing off the back of it, playing Fantasy Premier League is a great thing to bring into your life.
