FPL Contrarians Show: Recent Episodes
Cristian Rich and Matt Blenner
Looking for some FPL fantasy insight? Tired of hearing the same perspective over and over? Try the FPL Contrarian Show!
The FPL Contrarians are back in 2023 just in time for Double Game Week 20. Will Cris Triple Captain Haaland? Will Matt buy Zaha? Where is everyone sleeping tonight? We'll open up the listener mail bag and reveal a new nonsponsor.
Back after a shortened week, we finally blamed the true culprits for Four Loko, discuss Vardy's caffeine regime and talk a little FPL.
Warning. Cristian had too many beers after the game and unleashed his potty mouth in this episode. Not for sensitive ears
Instant reaction to the Fulham/Brentford game. The Contrarians add Brentford to the list of places in England that they can never return to. Part 2 of the England Trip!
The Contrarians report back from game 1 of their England trip where fellow American Josh Sargent scored a brace to push the home side past Milwall on a balmy August Friday night in Norwich.
We have Ian Wilson on the show this week as our guest and try to get him to admit to things that he never said. We do humanity a favor and warn about the dangers of Orcas and Cris grasps at straws as to why Salah and Haaland will fail this coming week. Long on time, heavy with FPL information; be cautious, be humble.
FPL Contrarians reveal their GW 1 teams with a few surprises, while debating if to pick or not to pick, Nunez effect on Salah, a secret OOP midfielder and spend way too much time on 4.5 forwards.
Keeper league is back as is a new game Minute Man Allstars!
The FPL Contrarians are back and commited to doing more shows than last year! Come for the 4.5mid discussion, stay for the weather complaints.
2 Shows before the deadline? What?
We review Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never To Play Football in our new show segment (36:25), reveal who are the FPL frauds to avoid (59:31) and struggle with our moves for the up coming DGWs. (The whole show)
After another long break, the FPL Contrarians are back! In a world where nothing is predictable, this week's show is shockily before the deadline and mostly relevant. Who is our secret pick? The first letter is a green B.
Another pod! Another guest! The Podfather appears to discuss festive fixtures, postponements and rejoining the Keeper league for the 2nd half.
The Contrarians are joined by special guest Ian Wilson to review the eventful GW9 results and help him prepare his wildcard team for GW10. Also Matt learns a important lesson.
The Contrarians debate continuing the Mane vs Salah experiment, who plays striker for Man City, and Sean Longstaff.
The Contrarians discuss the return of Ronaldo, Jota vs Torres and the rest of the international break happenings.
The FPL Contrarians are back for a 4th season with tales for the life without Salah, without Bruno , and no plans to bypass Lukaku.
Matt does a solo pod to air his thoughts on the upcoming double game weeks, chip usage, and Philadelphia heckling.
The Contrarians reflect on the double game week, the triple captain chip, and the first half of the Keeper league competition. Matt has been hit by the injury bug, but is looking to keep his momentum going up the ranks. Cris is living the life of luxury and shopping for back up keepers.
The Contrarians chime in on pizza toppings, explore the possibilities of ever changing blank and double game weeks, and discuss the impending award of the first Keeper League playoff spot.
The Godfather returns as guest host in a stats free episode that concludes by exploring a reality tv/premiere league crossover.
A combo episode where the Contrarians discuss game weeks 15 & 16. Then they settle on a chip strategy and then change their minds all over again.
The Contrarians take a moment to breathe during the congested game weeks of December and then calmly choose to panic.
The Contrarians find themselves making similar moves before GW12, with one key exception. Mane vs Salah is on.
The Contrarians react to incoming team news and try to plan their team sheets for COVID complications.
Matt licks his wounds from a rough Wildcard and tries to blame it on advice from Cris. Then the guys preview GW10 and investigate what is wrong with Manchester City.
The Contrarians review GW8 and the International Break and Matt plots out his 1st wildcard of the season.
We were delivering late projections before it was cool. This week The Contrarians talk Aston Villa attackers, keepers with no saves, and Brighton palace intrigue.
The Contrarians discuss a low scoring GW6, prepare for GW7 and wonder why they can't win any of their side games anymore.
No International Break for the Contrarians. Because they are Americans and aren't allowed to go anywhere. Might as well pod instead.
The Contrarians take stock of a low scoring GW3 and discuss obese bears, being tempted by shiny new things and moving across the country.
The Contrarians are riding high after a strong start to the season and discuss early wildcards, pay mini leagues, and American EPL broadcast rights.
The Contrarians review the start of the new season, try to sit on their hands for GW2, and talk with an FPL Contrarians Gladiator on the ropes already.
The Contrarians go over their teams on FPL season eve and preview the FPL Contrarians mini leagues and side games.
The FPL Contrarians are back for their third season with new games, new players, but the same contrarian mindset.
The Contrarians look back on the longest and strangest FPL season ever, try to learn lessons for next season, and touch on quantum physics simulation theory.
The Contrarians escape the dog days of summer by making plans for the final game week of the season and brainstorming enhanced home field advantage methods.
The Contrarians discuss scores from the last two game weeks, hit strategy during the run in, and the exciting conclusion to the Keeper League regular season.
The Contrarians zero in on plans for the final 5 game weeks, tend their wounds from disappointing scores, and recap the xCup league and the King of Keepers league.
Cris and Matt recap the last two game weeks as the fixtures come fast. They debate how Matt should handle the back stretch of the season with his high rank and try to distill what can be learned from the new rules restart.
The Contrarians discuss their triple digit season restart scores, plan for the season run in, and try to find a City player that will get reliable playing time.
It's a Friday and the Premier League is back so we are too. This episode was recorded before the restart on Wednesday and was also behind closed doors with no fans. The Contrarians discuss using their unlimited transfers to pick a team, talk over when to play remaining chips, and try to recall the state of the Keeper league.
The Contrarians review a brutal GW28, look ahead at planning ideas for GW31, and present the definitive ranking of captain choices.
The Contrarians threaten to rethink their entire FPL strategy, hold a funeral for Spurs FPL assets, and decide what to do about a dominant yearlong performer in the Keeper League.
The Contrarians look back at their first year of podcasting and listen to clips from show #1. Oh, and there is drinking.
The Contrarians are rested after the winter break and ready to tackle Son replacements, Vardy questions, and what to do with too much money. Also a new xCup leader emerges and an announcement about a bonus episode.
The Contrarians thank Salah for another green arrow week right before deciding that it might be time to switch back to Mane. They also provide updates on Keeper League and xCup and try to find a different way to play the upcoming blank game weeks.
The Contrarians discuss their very successful Triple Captain chips, look ahead to the next blank game week, and ponder the psychology of brightly colored goal keeping shirts.
The Contrarians check in before the first DGW. Chris has continued success from his early wildcard. Matt looks to make a maverick move against the lord.
Cris is back on the Contrarians pod to discuss his wildcard full of differentials and his 40 point haul from captain Aguero.
The Podfather returns to fill in for Cris and spill the secrets behind his 5K overall rank.
The Contrarians mull over a historically bad game week, try to sit on their hands and avoid panicking, and discuss which sides have the best festive week matchups.
The Contrarians take stock of the major players before the busy festive period of matches. What will they do without players from Liverpool (or West Ham) in GW18? Also the first have of the King of Keepers League draws to a close.
The Contrarians review 2 GWs and discuss whether City's FPL dominance is over, which Spurs should be owned, and when Vardy will finally stop scoring.
The Contrarians take a quick look back at GW 14 and look for ways to bolster the bench for the festive period fixtures.
The Contrarians try to call the end of the Vardy run, predict what the special one means for the Spurs, and deny substance induced transfers.
With no FPL games this weekend, catch up with the Contrarians and find out if you are brave enough to stand in front of the Vardy train, hitch your wagon to Mesut Ozil, or pick up a Newcastle defender. Plus updates on the xCup and King of Keepers leagues.
The Contrarians discuss travel plans and championship parades, Cris explains his new attitude towards FPL, and Matt talks through his wildcard plans.
The Podfather returns as a special cohost to explain his current overall rank of 8,823 and 20 point lead in the xCup. The guys marvel over the crazy things that happened in GW10 and discuss some contrarian picks at each outfield position moving forward.
The Contrarians debate how to use their 2 free transfers, try to continue unearthing undervalued players, and check in on the xCup and King of Keepers leaderboards.
Shorter episode due to technical difficulties, but the Contrarians weigh in on Maddison vs Vardy, whether to jump right back to KDB, and if Newcastle is a push over or a trap.
The Contrarians discuss what to do about the KDB injury, what teams have juicy schedules coming up and whether Alonso's flowing locks should return to our FPL teams.
The Contrarians review GW6 and look ahead to GW7. Cris reveals his major team overhaul and Matt tries to find the courage to make the contrarian move of selling an inform striker with an uninspiring replacement.
The Contrarians lick their wounds from a below average GW5 performance. Matt tries to find ways to feel good about the "big at the back" strategy and Cris searches for a path back to the top million managers. A newcomer takes over the top xCup spot and is it time to consider the keepers from Spurs and Arsenal each week as keeper league selections?
The doldrums of the international break are upon us, allowing us time to reflect on how we started the season and what lessons we learned (if any). We examine captain options going forward, “Poten” is born and offers good value, and finally we give updates from the xCup and Keeper league.
This week we debate on if we are being inpatient with our teams and should hold steady or if its time to go and Wildcard. Is Kane a mistake? What to do with Martial? And most importantly where do we stand on the Pukki gif?
Plus updates for XCup and Keeper game.
GW 2 is in the books and our scores have forced Matt to move to the jungles of Delaware. It was a tough one for most people and the resulting wildcard teams have not impressed Matt. Our week was highlighted by defensive heartbreak and haunted by what could have been, while we take hits but decline our invitation to the Pukki party.
The xCUP league proves to be quite tough but Yassen's Reds holds on to his lead. Meanwhile, a new King is crowned in Keeper league! Long live @rvp_sunny, long may he reign!
This week we recap GW1 and discuss who impressed us and who we are keeping an eye on. In addition we delve into Manchester United and Liverpool's assets, looking to see who might be overlooked. Finally we had an exciting week in xCup and Keeper league and provide the latest updates for both. GW1 is a wrap, onwards to GW2!
The 2019/20 FPL season is finally here! Matt and Cris reveal their GW1 teams, talk to the the Podfather who started this whole enterprise and kick off the second season of King of Keepers competition.
This week the gang looks at the opportunities that are created when a player leaves a team. They delve into the situations at Chelsea, Spurs, West Ham, Manchester City, Everton, Manchester United, and Leicester to find who might emerge. In addition, we go over both our xCup league and new important changes to our Keepers league!. All this and more on your FPL Contrarian show!
xCup league code: frrrz0
Matt returns from driving down the gentle curves of the Pacific Coast Highway and expresses what he would do if he was the manager at Crystal Palace while Cris goes wayyyy over the top on a young Chelsea midfielder.
Between this madness, we try and take an in-depth look at this year's favorite attackers and offer some players that could make interesting alternatives.
It's the Attackers Contrarian show!
This week we look at who everyone is buying and who you might want to consider instead for Keeper and Defender. In addition, we go out on a limb and decide that Liverpool's defense is good. Oh wait that's what everyone else is doing too....
We take time out of our busy summer lives to look back at the season that was and pontificate as to the lessons we should have learned the prior year and will probably forget.
Its the SUMMER PODCAST!
This week we flirt with captaining a defender.... again, evaluate out of form City midfielders we want to bring in and take turns trying to not listen to our own advice. All this and more on GW38!
This week on the show we find out how fine of a line it is between captaining a player and selling them, that sometimes twitter rumors are true and Matt has problems following the GoT plot.
This week Cris makes the argument that Vardy should actually be held for the rest of the season, Matt expresses his love for Beneteke and Cris voices his displeasure with Salah's antics. All this and a DGW half way recap!
This week we deal try and figure out who is running the (Official?) FLP Contrarian Show Twitter account, Matt gives us his take on the people of Southhampton, and everyone loses their minds and captain a Brighton Defenders. All this and more on this weeks FLP CS!
NOTE THIS IS PRE-KANE INJURY
This week, we get serious about wildcarding and break things down way too far, Matt finds out that they don't speak Italian in La Liga and Cristian is convinced about the virtues of Brighton for GW 34. All this and more!
This week we discuss how GW 31 and GW 33 are two parts of the same DGW, Cris' review of English beaches, and Matt learns that humans have 10 month pregnancies not 9 month ones.
We survived the blank game week in 31, now we push forward for game week 32! This week we talk about free hits, girl scout cookies, and why defenders are better than midfielders in a double game week player.
This week we go over Free Hit vs transfers, which players to bring in and a 90's sitcom.
This week we find out that Burnley isn't a good defense in spite of what Cris says, Matt is really good at picking differential players and West Ham is still a bad defense but we keep buying them.
This week we look at how Matt hit on the unlikely Mkhitarian and how Matt evaluates players. Cristian has a "terrible" week and drop 5k spots to 9k overall and makes a knee jerk transfer. And finally we get an update with the keeper league!
First episode ever!
This week we go over captain picks, when and why to take hits, we explain our Keeper league that we run on twitter.