This started as a post with no words in it, no images etc.

To being a fantasy football post, to a bit of a dear diary journal.

One that is on a website though.

So you know, like anything really, ‘take’ what you want from it.

Come for the team reveals…stay for the songs…

(Don’t break the 4th wall too much, keep this fantasy goin’, they don’t know whether this is a different version of me or not)

Yes, in this fantasy, I’m a fantasy football manager & a rock star lad (in reality I’m some lad writing about fantasy football in ours).

Yeah, whatever, I’m an idiot…

Mesin…

This is my world though, so whatever really, I’ll post this in a minute (not literally)…

| Gettin’ Deep In My Mind/Psychology/Motivation/Other (Stick With It) |

Jokes aside, I think it’s the little things that are underrated, so me joking about going to bars is just me being silly obviously.

It makes sense in my somewhat introverted world, but actually to get a bit deep (keepin’ this mostly breezy or care free really but), I’ve been realising recently how the grass really isn’t greener on the otherside.

And how the little wins really do add up, putting extra ‘pressure’ on yourself is counter-productive really (always knew that in a way but sometimes a reminder helps), as long as you’re putting it in (effort wise) you’ll be sound basically.

You can try too hard sometimes, or want something too badly, but obviously you have to keep at.

What am I saying here, well, I don’t know really…suppose I’m saying it helps to not give a f***.

But I am feeling super focused, I know how important it is to be positive about things, and to be optimistic.

I think being calm is important, it’s not always easy, but having a strong mind set is important.

It’s so easy to get wound up by stupid stuff these days, and most of it isn’t worth it.

I’ve been writing as many notes recently about psychology – or how I can get better in certain social situations, how to be more motivated, being more organised etc – as I have been writing notes on fantasy football.

I’m having a field day with it…as a unorganised person…but it’s how to play to your strengths…working on the little things…finding solutions, finding ways to do something, finding ways to solve problems etc.

I mean, as well as being at a point where I’m a lot more confident socially these days, I know I can find ways to get where I want to get to or do more socially (as an introverted person).

So I’m using this positivity as a spring board, even if it’s as seemingly trivial as something just as fantasy football.

Even having a brilliant GW or getting green arrows or being where you want to be rank wise (it’s what you want to achieve, not what Twitter wants you to achieve), can put you in a fantastic mood, give you feedback through an app or a website etc.

That and the team you support winning of course.

I think it’s important to be adventurous, to be courageous (editing/proof-reading is hard going as a Dyslexic, flippin’ eck lad) and daring – you don’t get too far by being too safe – but of course there is a balance to strike.

Don’t know what I’m saying now…I’ll post this in a minute….

I’m at a point where I’m seeing things in a positive light, and taking things as they come.

Being present is important too, so I’m conscious of GW28, but it’s about GW27 first.

See, I am going somewhere with this, everything is connected really!

Basically, if the little things make you happy, then who cares what people think.

| FPL/Fantasy Football/Mental Health/Whatever Floats Your Boat (So To Speak)/Positives/Enjoyment/Embracing The Chaos|

It’s funny, even though playing FPL/fantasy footy can have negative sides to it from a mental health perspective, I think it’s sorta how you want to see things…

This is a game that usually has 20 teams playing each GW (sometimes not, e.g GW28 has several teams not featuring), 10 matches & hundreds of players named in match day squads…

Most matches have 3 goals or less in…so you know…all sorts can and does happen in a GW…

Obviously though we can play percentages, look at statistics, data etc – to inform decisions.

On the flip side, if/when you find ways to make it more enjoyable, it can be really positive.

And this could be applied to other things, like going for a walk or reading a book.

It may not appear to be exciting, in a highly demanding world that puts lots of social pressure to be x, y or z, but if it has a positive effect on you then sound (it’s about practically if you ask me, you didn’t, sound).

Do what you want…within reason…

Anyway, having said, I’m off to the club…

Mesin, I mostly get my kicks off these games these days…or stimulating my mind…or music or whatever really……

(Post this in a minute)

You know FPL is so where it’s at these days…

This alter ego is wild…picking differentials for fun…out all night here & there (don’t tell them that I really like quiet nights in watching the Champions League & Europa League).

(Stay focused, stay focused, stay focused)

(Those songs being there helps to edit it actually, not too much though obviously, proof reading wise that is)

Just doin’ as well as I possibly can, enjoyin’ playing fantasy footy (2 teams), plus EFOOTBALL again too, and seein’ where it takes me (sorta)…

There’s lots of smart people in the FPL community…I’m part of it too…

(Bringin’ back an old classic there)

Lad/lady, I provide the gangster tunes though…and a bit of xG/xGA…for good measure…well you know…they complement each other right…mesin (Scouse for joking, to clarify).

Besides, I enjoy bein’ a bit maverick & lookin’ for a bit an of edge…

Previously on some lad pickin’ footballers in fantasy football…

Sound that…I’ll bank that like I’m on The Apprentice (does that work, don’t know, keep it anyway)…that’s sweet…I’m not callin’ Sugar ‘Sir’ though (too rebellious for that mate)

Got home to see Cancelo was in the spare room (I mean on my bench, keepin’ him there for a laugh).

To clarify this is an analogy.

It was a sound holiday (free hit) though, could have been better (I’m doing that thing there where you have to pretend to not be too happy with your score), but I enjoyed it (it served it’s purpose).

(Stay focused, stay focused, stay focused)

Back to the present…

Transfers have been made.

In FPL that is.

SKYFF is currently unchanged (besides the captains being set).

Now to get this SOC done.

Ok, less of the role play, time to get to it.

It’s me, or I just do what I want in fantasy footy (for the footy), mesin one GW at a time & all that (I do actually have some sorta plan & go off data, stats etc jokes aside, plus eye test & all that)

I’d like to say that I don’t condone or advocate some of the language used in these House of Pain songs…but the beats are unreal…and I’m playin’/including them anyway…

Playin’ Sánchez for a laugh, even though De Zerbi jibbed him off (Scouse, or old Scouse, for…dropped him basically…depending on the context) in GW26.

Vamos a ver…don’t write in Spanish…back to writing in Scouse…

(Leaves the zone for a minute…)

2 free transfers have been utilised.

Toney & Mbeumo in.

It’s definitely all out attack for me this week, as much as I am measured with how I play fantasy football, especially as I have the option of using a chip in GW28.

4 DGWs players (in theory), no hits taken

Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Brighton, Brentford (in FPL) etc are ‘covered’

Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City ‘covered’ in SkyFf (changes/transfers may be made during the GW)

Most match days are ‘covered’, food for thought on possibly transfers/’covering’ match days.

After conceding 7 I wasn’t too Shaw on Luke, every GW is different though, his former club at home awaits.

I didn’t pick Solly in March, but he may be an option in April (see how I put 3 months in the same sentence, gangster that lad, mesin).

Brighton are playing really well, and creating numerous chances (on current form, in previous matches), but I think this GW may be a bit trickier than meets the eye with a trip to Elland Road (Leeds have looked a bit more compact recently) and Palace at home (that fixture, a derby of sorts, is normally low scoring).

I also think Brighton’s goals/assists/points can come from all over – so in a curious sorta way I’m alright having just one or two of their players (FPL) – it’s possible that I get a Brighton player in SKYFF (for the match day involving Brentford, Crystal Palace, Southampton & Brighton).

Food for thought, I’ll see how it goes, one day at a time.

The bench isn’t Bueno (good in Spanish), I’m on the front foot with an attacking XI in DGW27.

Well, let’s see how it goes.

Manchester United lads come off the back off a 4-1 home win against Betis, have strong home form since October/November ish…

That Haaland lad is my team too…nice to have some differentials…mesin.

I’m breaking a record for keepin’ Cancelo or something (for a laugh)…

2 chips left, 1 GW at a time.

I did something wild last night…Thursday night can get crazy…I transfered in 2 Brentford players…whilst having a quiet night in ours.

| Mini Summary of Players/Thinking For DGW27 (Fixture Wise) |

Brentford are handy away having beaten City away this season, performed well at Arsenal’s gaff, picked up some really decent results on the road, unbeaten in the Premier League since October, Toney is in top form, both Toney & Mbeumo (some set pieces too) were hardly shot shy in GW26 against Fulham (3-2) both are well involved in Brentford’s attack (they’ve got sound underlying numbers too lad, they best not be lying anyway), the Arsenal lads play (availability permitting, give Ødegaard some honey drinks or something Arteta lad, feel like I’ve said this sorta thing before, but let’s see eh) a Fulham side without Palhinha, Liverpool come off the back of the 7-0 against United, and 5 consecutive clean sheets in the league…so that’s why I don’t have any Liverpool players in FPL this GW (got them in SkyFF, the real quiz, mesin)…go into the fixture being well fancied and no doubt will be favourites to win (probably), however, Bournemouth do set up sometimes with a 5 at the back and their xGA at home isn’t too bad (I say all that and they’ve conceded the most in the league this season (think I’m right in saying), including 4 against City & 3 against Arsenal recently…Liverpool are not involved in GW28…play away in DGW29 (against Manchester City & Chelsea), although funnily enough Liverpool sides over the years like playing the better sides (they get more space & all that jazz)…Liverpool may have one eye on Real Madrid midweek…Brentford & Brighton play twice in DGW27…got Liverpool players in SkyFF…welcome to my mind…I am prioritising DGWs & all that jazz basically…this is part of the joy of having two at teams at the same time…and supporting a team who is the 3rd top scoring team in the league (basically I’m backing it to be sound…one way or another)…let my 3 teams do what they do…Liverpool, FPL & SKYFF.

Make that 4 actually…here’s my current EFOOTBALL team…

Lad, I’m not Guardiola, Ancelotti or Klopp, I just pick some footballers for the joy of it you know…

I do like how these worlds connect though – reality, fantasy, EFOOTBALL, FPL, SKYFF etc.

Whatever.

I’m taking on the world online with that team lad…

– Get a life

– No

These days everyone is a geek anyway…it’s became cool…sorta…

Ok, I’ll go for a walk in a bit & get back to reality…

That Haaland lad, plus a few others get the nod too.

I don’t know lad I’m just pickin’ some footballers lad…

(Stay focused, stay focused, stay focused)

(Stay in the zone, stay in the zone, stay in the zone)

(Stay tuned, in this stream of consciousness, don’t go too ADHD on everyone)

(Let it go where it wants though, it’s a bit structured, keep your headphones on to stay in the zone)

(I’m feelin’ fresh here, that break last week helped, stay focused)

Ok, currently I don’t have any music on (keepin’ it chilled), but I’ll get some tunes on in a minute to step up the intensity.

Feelin fresh off that walk before, plus having made zero transfers a week ago, and coming off the back of a mini break of sorts from doing ‘content’.

It’s handy having transfers done early as possible, now I’m mainly focusing on getting this done, and then I’ll see where I’m at SkyFF wise (I’ll post something if/when a change may be made).

(Quick little pause for an edit & a brew)

One game week at a time & all that, footy can be off it’s head, so I’ll see how it goes.

Liking where my teams are at really.

One day a time, these tunes are boss lad.

Ok, I’ll wrap this up in a minute…

Lad, I’m on the spectrum…Lad, I’m on the spectrum, lad I’m on the spectrum..

(And I embrace it, it’s funny)

Something like that, mesin.

(Rubbish that, keep it in anyway, just goin’ with the flow)

Doin’ these, it’s like bein’ high (on nature), obviously some mad bits a gonna be in it…

Just because I’m a gangster fantasy footy manager, doesn’t mean that I’m not emotionally intelligent & thought out, I just like some old school 90s Hip Hop lad.

It’s brilliant to go into each GW bouncin’, with tunes on, having teams you like is half the battle in this game I reckon…

I’m not sayin’ I’m x, y or z, I just play for the fun of it really, and I like what I do…

Ok…this was a gangster stream of consciousness…about fantasy football…I’m off for a walk on a nice Spring evening (light nights lad) and a herbal tea…