By James Dowdeswell We thought Pep Roulette was tough, but Tuchel plays a Squid Game. GW9 was an incredible, unpredictable, awe-inspiring, devastating and despairing weekend of football. It showed us the true highs and lows of FPL in a single gameweek. Havertz felt like a recommended left field wine from a trusted waiter, which turned out to be corked, vinegary, and sent back. Of course, this German Havertztraminer was back on the menu and firing in midweek, when we didn’t need him. But does anyone dare crack it open again, on what you hope to be a celebratory weekend? Meanwhile on the next ta ..read more

The blog comparing FPL Players to Beers by James Dowdeswell We are now punch drunk on premiums and spoilt for choice. Last week I paid top dollar for “CR Special Brew” and was richly rewarded. This Portuguese beer, which promised so much, delivered on a sunny Saturday afternoon. With the captaincy in place, two pints, soon became four and another for maximum bonus. Later that afternoon, I sobered up when friends posted pics of an equally impressive “Romelu Lager Queue”. I planned to steer clear until Oktoberfest in Gameweek 7. Besides, he was being served in the opposite bar to my beloved Asto ..read more

Guinness famously declared “Good things come to those who wait.” They have a point. The FPL world is pretty fast paced and the Wildcard is burning a hole in my back pocket, but sometimes the best cause of action is to be patient. I love the Wildcard. But it means very different things for very different players. If you are totally behind everyone else, it’s the perfect tool to reboot your season. However, I prefer to hold the Wildcard in reserve, like a get out of jail free card. It gives me the opportunity to take some risks, knowing if all else fails, I’ve got the Wildcard. It also means I c ..read more

By James Dowdeswell FPL Season 21/22 opened with a bang, two huge hauls from Bruno and Salah. All talk of differential picks was blown out of the water, as the two most popular premium assets delivered big time. To use a beer analogy, it was a week to ignore the quirky temptations of the craft beer fridge and tuck into a classic cask ale like Harvey’s Best, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, or even a Guinness. Then kick back, sup your pint, and watch the points roll in. Gameweek 2 is shaping up to be a game of stick or twist. If FPL players were beers, this week’s considerations are: Gundo Can (Man ..read more

The Blog comparing FPL Players to Booze. By James Dowdeswell Despite drinking in the acrobatics of “Gold Ings” (£8.1m Aston Villa) last weekend, the main talking point this week has been another claret and blue asset... San Miguel Antonio (£7.8m West Ham) is the hit beer of August, so good you’ll want it on a Monday night, as well as the weekend. This East End lager is trending everywhere and the demand is making it increasingly more expensive. Still great value, at under £8m and a must of the bank holiday weekend. Even if the occasional pint is off, it doesn’t affect your enjoyment. In FPL te ..read more

The 10 final whistles blowing across England’s rain-soaked cities and suburbs weren’t the only clues that the 20/21 season had reached its conclusion on Sunday. A far more sinister sound skulked its way through the streets: quiet at first, but reaching a crescendo the moment Official FPL’s website finally caught up with the day’s action. The sound, of course, was the collective sigh of relief amongst FPL managers that this season, punctuated by disruption and corruption, had finally met its end. Even the best managers seemed relieved to see the back of it. Irrespective of your individual succe ..read more

Here at FPL Merch we hope you had an enjoyable season. Now for the fun part, choosing the prizes and forfeits for you and your mini-league's. Here is a little run down of the products you can get your hands on through us... Finished in the Top 100k this season? Ranging from the Top 100 all the way to the Top 100k (like me... just) WE have the full collection ready and waiting to go out... Maybe you won your mini league? We have three different designs to choose from, this GOT theme is my personal fav.... We also do some pretty sweet Trophy's you know... If you purchased a large trophy you can ..read more

The Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for some is a lifetime sport. Cutting your teeth in a School league, gearing up the stakes at Uni where the aim of the game is to not finish last for fear of brutal forfeits. All this in preparation for your adulthood and bossing your work league year in year out. It would be naive to think that promotions haven't been made solely on a persons fantasy football dominance. I started FPL Merch because I found no real site out there which deals exclusively in making these leagues legendary. Living in the US opened my eyes in how the game of fantasy football should ..read more

The Blog comparing FPL Players to Beers. By James Dowdeswell Going into GW22, here’s the hot FPL picks and how they compare to beers. With the pressure of fixture pile ups, Covid and cancellations, this is no time for Dry January. These Double Game Week players can all BOG OF. (Buy one get one free). “Madd Is On Fire IPA” (6.9% alc.) Brewed In Leicester. A streaky cask beer. If you catch a good barrel at the right time, this set piece beer will deliver the pints and the occasional worldy. “Christ No Ronald” (12.5% alc.) A unique Portuguese super strength beer, now brewed in Manchester, is tast ..read more

#FPL #Friends By James Dowdeswell Carrie Fisher once said “The saddest two words in the English language are What Party?” Had she played FPL, she might have said, “International Break.” In the last two weeks I’ve suffered from severe IBS - International Break Stress. So good to be back! There was however, one shining light. During the International Break I met up with the delightful Ross (@FPLMerch). I happened to be doing a comedy gig down in Devon, near his home town. We had never met before, just chatted online, so it was kinda like a blind FPL date. Instead of a red rose, we both carried a ..read more