The Scout's panel of Fantasy Premier League experts reflect on their 2023/24 campaign and reveal where they will look to improve next season.
Lee Bonfield (@FPLFamily)
This season, I've taken a "play what's in front of you" approach, focusing on picking players for the upcoming Gameweek. That only got me so far though. The changes to the FA Cup next season are likely to mean fewer Blank and Double Gameweeks in FPL, so I expect to do fewer short-term, instinctive moves based on Blanks and Doubles. Instead, I will look to take a longer-term approach with my transfers. That will help ensure that any moves I make one Gameweek don't block me from other planned moves down the line. I need to go back to thinking like a chess player.
Pranil Sheth (@lateriser12)
My biggest learning is that all the decisions you make are reversible. If you're rolling the dice against a highly-owned asset and if it doesn't work out, get the highly-owned asset back immediately and admit your mistake. If you are able to own up honestly and redo the decision, it might even help you take more risks against the template, because you know you have the capacity to immediately reverse the decision if it doesn't work out.
Utkarsh Dalmia (@ZopharFPL)
It's been a season with loads of goals and I think that will continue into 2024/25. I'll likely avoid spending big in defence next year, and the defenders I pick will need to have attacking potential to back up their clean sheets. Picking as many penalty-takers as I can will also be a priority.
Ben Crabtree (@FC_CrabDogg)
My takeaway from this season is that remembering your own golden rules is more important than having them in the first place. It's easy to get swept up in the relentless Gameweeks and forget that different phases of the season require different thinking, and that the basics are easily forgotten when the deadline approaches.
Holly Shand (@HollyShand)
My biggest learning has been on long-term planning, with a second Wildcard played too early, ultimately derailing my season. My Free Hit in Double Gameweek 34 did pay off though, and I also managed my best return on the Triple Captain chip. The chips are the most powerful element in the game!
Nick Harris (@WGTA_Nick)
A key lesson for myself and other FPL managers will be around Wildcards, and the importance of chip management - it is essential that these are timed around either fixture shifts or injury crises. The Wildcard is an exciting chip, and one that many are eager to use, but many of the top-performing managers this season didn't actually use their second Wildcard until as late as Gameweek 35. This allowed them to truly take advantage of Double Gameweek 37.
Gianni Buttice (@GianniButtice)
Every manager looks back at a campaign and questions some of the big choices they made that they got wrong, but it's also important to appreciate the calls they got right. Variance plays a big part in FPL and 50/50 calls will rarely always go in your favour.
My two main personal regrets in terms of team selection were not investing in double Arsenal defence when so many did, and not buying Richarlison when he was on his hot streak. Many of my rivals did both these moves and were heavily rewarded.
As a wider learning I would like to have a bit more fun with captaincy next season. Going against the most-popular pick can give you huge gains if you get it right. Sure, you have to be selective, but I didn't do it enough this season.
Pras (@Pras_FPL)
I always try to separate decision-making from outcome. Did I do badly some weeks due to bad luck, or was it bad choices? Then I try to reflect on the latter. One thing I have learned from this season is to take fewer hits (perhaps plan better - or get luckier with injuries!) and also perhaps increase my risk appetite. Too often I went with the popular transfer or captain. I will try to increase the risk threshold slightly next year.
Harry Daniels (@FPL_Harry)
One of the biggest lessons I try to take from an FPL season is understanding what you can control. You can make good decisions all season and still not have a successful campaign due to injuries or bad fortunes. Being able to understand if an outcome was a bad decision or bad outcome will help you a lot moving forward.
Sam Bonfield (@FPLFamily)
This season I have been incredibly loyal to my players - in some cases that has worked out better than others. William Saliba never left my team, while Ollie Watkins stayed for 30 weeks. Even players such as Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer have managed over 20 weeks in my team. However, there were other moments where I held players for too long. Not selling Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min when they were away on international duty really hurt as it meant I didn't own the likes of Phil Foden - and he punished me week after week.
Next season my plan is to worry slightly less about team value and the fact I could lose money by selling the premium players. Instead I'll think more about the potential gains of moving around, which was a strategy that worked for me in the closing weeks of the season.
