What is your Twitter handle?
FPL Addict
@FPLAddict123
Who do you support?
West Ham United
Why do you support them?
No family reason at all. As a kid I was Liverpool crazy, but I was watching the 1980 FA Cup final decided to support them on the day of the final which they won (last thing of note that they did) other than European success in the InterToto Cup of course!!!. My brother in law took me to Charlton a lot and they were more local but were proper shit, so it’s been the Hammers all the way.
How often do you get to attend matches?
since our move to the most atmospheric ground in the country (lol) I go to most home games as I have a season ticket, and before that I would go a few times a season when I could get tickets, aside from one season where I went all bar two home games including cup games.
Who is your favourite ever player?
There are two and quite different, probably from my twitter pic it won’t be a surprise to see Paulo Di Canio as one, when he wasn’t pushing referees over, he was great to watch, unpredictable and sheer genius at times but he had heart and passion too. The other would be Julian Dicks, the no nonsense and sometimes brutal tackling along with the thunderous left foot. Both crowd pleasers in their own way.
What win in your lifetime means the most to you?
That’s tough as it feels like a long time since we won anything of note, but would have to say the Play-off final against Blackpool in 2012 as was there at Wembley.
Which goal meant the most?
Probably as I was there and it meant we got promoted Vaz Te’s goal in the 87th min in the play-off final v Blackpool, winning promotion back to PL was so important.
Which team would you most like to beat this season?
Chelsea, mainly because of their supporters and how great they think they are, but basically out bought most clubs at the start of their successful spell. I know Spurs should be but until they win anything of note I am happy not to lose.
Are you happy with your manager?
He’s new so nothing to go on other than reputation, but yes. Have hope of better times and better football. I hope we get the Pellegrini that did what he did with Malaga and Villarreal earlier in his career, he has Prem experience but that was with City which we are not going to be.
Are you happy with your Board/Chairman?
NO in a word, what a complete circus and joke they are. To be fair I have met David Gold and he ain’t too bad he isn’t clueless when it comes to football and does actually care, I think they are maybe too involved because they like football and the club, I’ve not spoken to David Sullivan but seen him up close (once I looked down), how can someone so short be even shorter in real life? He definitely has short man syndrome, for someone who is in business and is so knowledgeable hasn’t got a clue how to deal with transfers, every f’in transfer window he mentions all these star names then we go and sign Zaza or Jordan Hugill, long list of empty promises and despite any good intentions they’re a bit deluded.
Where do you realistically think your club will finish this season?
Top 10 min, 8th a realistic target, if the attacking football does materialise and we beat those teams below or around us and anything additional against the top six is a bonus. Think everyone is so close outside of top 6/7 so it’s quite achievable, either way better football, a few more goals and not fighting relegation is achievable.
What opposition player do you secretly admire?
No shame in saying Harry Kane (except when he talks) it’s obviously his goal scoring but more than that the way he conducts himself and just does the job clinically no fuss, the pens in the WC V Panama was cool under pressure.
Is there a youngster at the club who could become a regular in the side this season?
Declan Rice was the breakout player last year, I don’t see anyone in the current crop coming through as regulars yet but Pellegrini said he will develop the youngsters, Reece Oxford is an outside possibility if he can find his way again, but I am not sure he will at least not at West Ham.
Who do you think will be your club’s top FPL points scorer this season?
If he plays as a striker and is classified as a mid then Arnie (Marco Arnautovic), if not Fabianski will be.
Can you tell us about your FPL history?
First season was 2012/13 but I started in week 6 so nothing of note, was 1.3mil OR, then 4 fairly consistent seasons with finishes of 21k, 37K, 15K, 20K, then this year ……..276K so a disaster in a way, but didn’t feel I did that much different.
What would be a successful FPL finish for you this season?
To beat 15K and finish in the top 10K.
What formation do you generally favour for FPL?
3-5-2 most weeks but will vary between 3-4-3 and 3-5-2.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned playing FPL?
Probably from this season and even last, the game does change so don’t be too fixated on what worked in terms of team structure, also transfer values are less a factor in the sense the increases have become less and less, so points over pounds wins out now easily.
When did you use your chips last season and was it successful?
GW8 – 1st Wildcard (latest ever)
GW32 – 2nd Wildcard
GW34 – Bench Boost
GW35 – Free Hit
GW37 – Triple captain
I had planned to have a team for the blank in 31, with 11 playing I scored 102 with a -4, I gained ground OR but was not as much as hoped, Salah Capt with 58 inflated the score, WC after was the only option as team would have been full of shit. This meant doing so early and with the rotation risks higher in 37 and better TC options I went BB34, TC37 and I scored 93 and 97 in these weeks, again good scores but in previous years 150 plus was something to achieve off the BB. This year at the end of the season many weeks were low scoring so the advantage was not realised, I played them at the right time other than maybe the 1st wildcard, so overall a success just not a big one.
Anything else we should know about you?
I’m guilty of when watching a game and when West Ham concede which was a lot last year, although pissed off I would then look to see who scored or assisted, it softened the blow, I rarely pick West Ham players as feel it jinxes them but is also because I know how erratic they can be, I would love to be able to have Arnie in next year. I think twitter has been such a useful resource I discovered this year into the season and I’m looking forward to being involved with Planet FPL next year.
Finally, I took my then girlfriend to see West Ham play Blackpool at the play-off final, she didn’t have a shirt so I gave her an old one, she was fairly well endowed in the chest, she had said she wondered why people were looking at smiling/laughing and only later did it occur to me that she had the previous sponsor XL across her shirt and chest, she wasn’t happy, lol.