This is Part 2 in an FPL tips for beginners series.
You can read Part 1 on FPL Strategies For Beginner Managers and Part 3 on How To Allocate FPL Chips.
Most Common Mistakes Beginners FPL Managers Make
When managers play FPL for the first time, they make an array of common mistakes in their approach.
In the previous part of this series on FPL Strategies For Beginner Managers, we covered the top 5 mistakes beginner FPL managers make.
Let’s examine a few of these mistakes more closely and identify why they are made in the first place.
1) The Transfer Dilemma
FPL managers who enter the game for the first time often think that rotating players every week gives them an edge for the following match.
This may be true in some circumstances, but transfers need careful consideration and are crucially timed.
One of the most common rookie mistakes is completing transfers right after a match week finishes.
New managers may be in awe of a certain player who has had an outstanding performance and rush to get the player into their teams before the next match week.
Sometimes, they do this without considering midweek fixtures in other competitions.
Picture this: Right after the match week finishes, you rush to get Cole Palmer into your team due to an exceptional performance.
You’ve used all your free transfers to acquire the Chelsea asset, but you’re happy knowing he will feature in your FPL team for the upcoming match week.
Then, disaster strikes.
Two of your other FPL assets get injured during midweek games, and now you have to choose between leaving them in your team, knowing you won’t get any points from them, or taking a hit and transferring them out, which would result in a combined -8 points deducted from your total points tally.
Not ideal, is it?
This is why it’s essential to remain patient and only complete transfers when you know there are no potential red or yellow flags to worry about.
2) Having Two Premium Goalkeepers
Many newcomers choose to select two top-quality goalkeepers and rotate them each week based on the likelihood of clean sheets.
Logic might suggest that having both Alisson and Ederson will be a terrific way to rack up points from clean sheets, as Liverpool and Manchester City usually have strong defensive performances.
However, this logic is flawed when you consider your total budget.
It might seem affordable, as both Alisson and Ederson are priced at £5.5m each, but compared to a starting goalkeeper worth £5.0m and a reserve keeper worth £4.0m, the costs start to add up.
By opting for the latter pair, you would save £2.0m, which can make a big difference elsewhere on the pitch.
It’s essential to have a starting goalkeeper with a favourable fixture run.
If your starting goalkeeper enters a period where he will face tough opposition for several weeks, then simply replacing him with a new goalkeeper who has a good fixture run ahead is the way to go.
3) Picking The New Ballon d’Or Winner
This is another common pitfall we see many new FPL managers make.
When you look at the Ballon d’Or stats, certain players are considered world-class; how could they possibly be bad Fantasy Premier League picks?
Players like Rodri, Declan Rice, Vinícius Júnior, and Alexis Mac Allister have proven to be among the best in the Premier League.
Still, some managers might not understand why they are so cheap to acquire and why selecting them is probably the wrong move.
Managers unfamiliar with the FPL point system might be confused as to why these players are not significant assets to own.
While these players are terrific on the pitch, what they offer their Premier League clubs does not translate well to FPL.
Midfielders, like all other players, receive 2 points for playing more than 60 minutes in any Premier League game.
However, midfielders only receive 1 point for a clean sheet, whereas goalkeepers and defenders receive 4 points for a clean sheet.
All midfielders also receive 3 points for an assist and 5 points for a goal.
With this information in mind, we can conclude that players like Rodri and Rice will end most of their match weeks with 3 points if their teams keep a clean sheet or 2 points if they do not.
Goals and assists are few and far between for these deep-lying midfielders.
This is why they are so cheap to include in your team and why choosing them is likely the wrong decision.
Attacking midfielders like Martin Ødegaard and Kevin De Bruyne will generate the same number of points from clean sheets as deep-lying midfielders.
Still, their creative and attacking threat ensures returns throughout the season, which is why they are significantly more expensive.
4) Disregarding Your Bench
Pep Guardiola’s tactics have ensured that experienced FPL managers examine their bench before saving their lineups for the weekend.
You never know when their club will rest one or two of your assets, so it is essential to double-check your bench before the matchweek starts.
Some FPL players often forget to position the players on their bench correctly.
This might be because your bench is the most underwhelming aspect of your FPL team, but when the time comes, you might need your first-positioned substitute to fill in for a rested player.
Making sure that your subs are in the correct order can be the difference between a mediocre weekend and a great one.
Conclusion
This is Part 2 in our FPL tips for beginners series.
You can read Part 1 on FPL Strategies For Beginner Managers and Part 3 on How To Allocate FPL Chips.
