Why do we play Fantasy Football??

Post by **ravenscroftravens** » 19 Jan 2016, 11:51

I've spent probably the best part of 3 years on and off trying to convince my girlfriend to play Fantasy Football - the logic behind it being that at least she will understand why I spend so much time on it and we could have a little bit of inhouse rivalry.

But I have finally now accepted defeat and given up. All because I honestly could answer one simple question... Why do you play fantasy football?

I thought long and hard and I genuinely couldn't come up with an actual answer to justify why I play it.

So I'm interested to read how/if you guys can answer the question?

Post by **bloggie** » 19 Jan 2016, 15:14

I think you're more asking why your girlfriend doesn't play it. If not it may be the mixture of camaraderie and competitive spirit imbibed by playing football in the playground etc as kids plus a topic that gets discussed a lot amongst males of the species when growing up probabably as usually it veres on the non controversial side in choice of topics. Like discussing the weather etc. instead of shall we say gossip.

Post by **moff71** » 19 Jan 2016, 23:01

I play because I love football and I always fancied myself as the most knowledgable person in the known universe (as we all do, I'm sure) and fantasy football SHOULD be a way to prove that once and for all... Unfortunately the games out there are about goals and assists which doesn't really represent football at all, so I built my own, Dugout FC < theres a post in the general board.

Now imagine your conversation with your girlfriend, except its ALL of your mates girlfriends, and they are berating you because your mates are spending so much time on the game and its all your fault... living hell.

Post by **ravenscroftravens** » 19 Jan 2016, 23:36

Thanks for the reply bloggie - that sums it up pretty well.

moff71 - thanks for the spam!

Post by **moff71** » 20 Jan 2016, 09:16

ravenscroftravens wrote:moff71 - thanks for the spam!

Sorry mush, wasn't meant to be, if you see the general post you'll see i've explained to your moderator thats not the agenda. Its a genuine reply and I intend on trying to be part of your community... but if you really do love fantasy football then take a look, see what you think. Would love to get some feedback.

Post by **Vid** » 20 Jan 2016, 15:28

bloggie wrote:I think you're more asking why your girlfriend doesn't play it. If not it may be the mixture of camaraderie and competitive spirit imbibed by playing football in the playground etc as kids plus a topic that gets discussed a lot amongst males of the species when growing up probabably as usually it veres on the non controversial side in choice of topics. Like discussing the weather etc. instead of shall we say gossip.

Isn't it more to do with money in truth? So many RMTs over the years asking for help to win their friends/ family/ work MLs, "friendly" competition with a payout at the end of it

I was introduced to FF many years ago when SE needed someone to take over an OFL team, it didn't take me long to discover that I could supplement my income by playing and have done okay over the years, probably could/ should have done better on occasions, but life frequently gets in the way.

I've had the comments from partners saying FF is " stupid game" or a "waste of time", the criticism has disappeared for short periods when I've won enough to pay for a decent holiday or refurnish the house, but once the money's been spent the criticism returns

MrsVid's one foray into FF was part of a FPL works league last season - no cash involved, which was a pity as they let me in too and I won it

I got booted for this season and she's not bothered with it herself.

Post by **muldoon** » 20 Jan 2016, 16:49

I like football so I got roped into a friends TFF super league about 10 years ago, having never played any form of footy game apart from Sensible Soccer on my old Amiga

I've been at it ever since. Our league has about 40 members paying £10 each so the prize pot is alright, and we give trophies to winners to record their glory forevermore. But that pales into insignificance compared to the fun and banter we've had over that 10 years.

New life long friendships have been made through that league, we've met up, watched games, got drunk, played football and even gone on holiday together, there's members now on 3 or 4 continents. Some take it more seriously than others, but everyones involved, we even had 6 girls last year, but that number has slipped back this year. We've all grown up and gone off to do lots of different things, but our Super League is regarded as one of the constants of our universe.

For some its almost a 24/7 thing with email, text and phone banter going on all the time, but others don't care as much. We have a rotating gaffer who takes the reins for a year and is responsible for all the years updates, so you get a really good chance to get to know someone after a year of their updates (everone playing TFF feels like they know Spiny Norman and would buy him a drink if we ever met in a bar/festival field/garden one day:D)

The FF internet forum side of it is still a tiny part of it for me. Its ALL about lording it up over your mates in real life, the bragging rights, constant banter, and gaining immortality though joining our leagues list of champions. Its so much more than a game, my life would be much duller without (ironically it sounds so so much sadder now

)

I shall be making dinner tonight, cracking open some beers and parking up in front of my telly to watch my team Spurs, probably snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the FA Cup. But even if my team lose I have a chance to take top spot tonight in my super league, so its win win. All the while my phone will be buzzing as the goals fly in, with tales of daring do and glory and cries of abject failure and despair. Bring it on!

Post by **murf** » 20 Jan 2016, 16:54

I've never really played for the money. The money just adds to the status of your win and kinda validates it as an achievement. I'd love to be able to keep the cheques I have won as trophies! Not won many and cashed them all of course. That first TFF MOTW cheque meant far more to me than increasing my bank account by £250 did.

Unless you win a decent 4 or 5 figure sum then the rate of pay is dreadful anyway! Also worked for nothing most years!

I did multi enter (20-30 teams) for a few seasons to increase my chances of winning but found it reduced my enjoyment so I play for fun with less teams. Mostly in FISO sidegames.

Post by **Striker** » 20 Jan 2016, 17:00

Surely most people who play fantasy football play it for enjoyment. Most enjoy picking their team and subsequently managing it. If your girlfriend asks how is that enjoyable, you can respond by asking why is playing chess, listening to music, etc etc enjoyable. Its simply that different people find different activities enjoyable. There's no rhyme or reason why Mrs Striker finds art enjoyable and I find it boring (and vice versa with fantasy football). We just do. That doesn't undermine enjoyment as being a good justification for playing fantasy football.

Elements of that enjoyment may include, the planning involved, anticipation of games, increased enjoyment of watching games, banter with friends who also play, (my sister would sometimes be on the phone talking to her friends up north in her fantasy league as soon as a TV game finished), etc. There is satisfaction in one's decisions being vindicated, and hope springs eternal after poor decisions. The possibility of winning cash is an added bonus and a far more interesting way of trying to win money that the Lottery or a casino.

I never really understand why fiso members often complain that their girlfriends/wives are difficult regarding fantasy. One lesson that I've learnt though is that problems only occur if transfers or whatever, are a surprise. If she knows in advance when you absolutely can't go shopping, visit in-laws etc then things should be OK. It's when her plan is upset that you may get strife.

Post by **mephisto** » 01 Mar 2016, 17:25

Is there anything else that comes close..I found FF as a great way of being involved with a game I still love but with a limited liability when it comes to speculating on matches, league winner, golden boot etc. It is possible to mitigate against irritating gate crashers by chucking in a few weeklies or monthlies to minimise a horrible clean sheet run (to a degree at least).
But most of all..when your best team really shines and other popular picks fail, there is a deliciously ephemeral magyk at play between success and failure..yours and theirs. It appeals to schemers, dreamers and fantasists; all values to which I have a strong allegiance. And as to the marathon, 9 long sapping months of anguish, delight and conspiracy theories; well, they still shoot horses dont they?

Post by **Edmondson** » 01 Mar 2016, 18:18

Has to be an end goal for me, and that is ££££

No real interest in a mates or work league with no cash involved. Doesn't bother me in the slightest about the so called "bragging rights".

Never seen the appeal of FPL either, unless as part of a cash league.

The enjoyment is still embedded in the research, strategy, decisions etc. But the real enjoyment is in believing you might win the big one, because of some ridiculous scoring spree weekend

Post by **Maldini** » 01 Mar 2016, 18:35

Edmondson wrote:
No real interest in a mates or work league with no cash involved. Doesn't bother me in the slightest about the so called "bragging rights".

This bit does appeal to those of us with mates

Post by **Lugger** » 03 Mar 2016, 15:56

I like to compete against other people to see how good I am, and a financial reward is always nice(when you get paid).

If you are doing well in a non payment league as apposed to one where you might get financially rewarded, I'm guessing most people would devote more time to the one where there is a financial reward. That's just common sense I guess.

Post by **stitchy** » 14 Mar 2016, 11:22

The person that introduce me to fantasy football admitted he had a bit of a gambling problem and in quite a bit of debt.

Fantasy football has now solved his gambling addiction because the few quid he throws into the games each year is pittance compare to what he was throwing away and fantasy football gives him something to look forward to every weekend and during the week.

Myself I love playing it and it has become a full time hobby for me. The buzz I get when I am in the running for a weekly or a monthly and the final update awaiting on to see if I have won or not, the highs and lows with the disappointment of discovering that you have came second or worse when you thought you were going to win, the excitement when the final update appears and you are sat there at the top and you have won with a little fist pump. Or a bigger fist pump celebration when you think you got no chance of winning and suddenly your name is at the top.

I have estimated I have paid out around £200 in fantasy football entries in the 3 years I been doing it and have won just over £3000 in prize money and another £2000 or more in prizes, I.e ipads, tvs, PlayStation consoles etc etc.
So not only it a hobby it is also been really profitable for me.

DO I NEED TO GET A LIFE?

Nah I will stick with it, because after all "ITS ONLY A GAME AND A FUNNY ONE WHEN IT COMES TO IT".

Post by **Shaggy365** » 14 Mar 2016, 13:06

I know it's almost a treason-able offence round here to say that I'm having a year off.

I got really frustrated that the amount of time I was putting in to playing never manifested itself into a good week or a good season. Never hit 100 points in a FPL GW, even with a DGW. While there's always a thread that says "How well did you do this week" (with a different selection of puns), there will be people that have had a good week, either by good luck or good management, and there should be a place for them to share their good score. Trouble is I've never come close to those posting their score, so unless I scored a mighty 6 points from all 11 players, I've never posted.

FF used to take all my spare time, and now that I've taken a back seat for the season, I've been able to fill my time with other things. I will still be running the Fantasy snooker in April/May and also the Fantasy Olympics if there are any countries that haven't all been banned on mass, but I am enjoying not fretting over transfers.

Over & out.

P.S. If I am found guilty of talking down FF competitions, I would like to plead diminished responsibility in my defence.

FISO