FROM Fantastico Davido & Fantasico Centurians

I received a mailshot from you a few days ago announcing the return of the competition. Glad to hear it!
I really missed it last season.

You mentioned that there would be a revamp of the site and asked for feedback and suggestions.

Well, firstly, the format is unique and, for the greater part, really shouldn't be changed.
Once you make it to the League "proper", it is an extremely addictive game. You have a great format
and I don't think it should be diluted at all. However, the one failing that the competition
does have is the poor retention of new players.
Too many register, play for a few weeks and then disappear.

Why is this? I think it could be the format of the "Minor League". Maybe the reason is that anyone
joining up after the first few weeks of Phase One has very little prospect of advancing in the competition,
such is the lead that has already been built up by those at the top of the table. Looking at the
Minor League standings presently showing on the site, it would be nigh impossible for any new player
to catch up the 405 points already amassed by the team currently in 8th place (which happens to be
one of mine!). I can see why they may lose interest and give up. They have nothing to battle for
- neither able to win promotion nor to have to battle to avoid relegation

Would it be an idea to use the (already calculated and listed) "Success Rate" to determine standings
in The Minor League Divisions? The "Points %" system that you use could be utilised as a sort
of goal difference to separate any ties. A further deciding point could be number of weeks played?

This would make the Minor League much more open and much more competitive and maybe
encourage new players to stick with it.

To prevent top teams"bagging" promotion in the last week of the season by not playing and keeping
their Success Rate intact, it could be a condition that teams must play the last one (or two) weeks
of the season or else forfeit promotion - and perhaps have an embargo on new registrations
commencing play during the last two weeks of each phase.


Taking this one step further.... (forgive me, I've got a buzz about this!). The Minor League as stands
allows endless new teams to join in at any point in the season - but starting off way down in 38th
place could well put some off doing so.

Could the Minor League become Minor Leagues - once a 20 strong Division is filled, a new one
is created below that - a Minor League 2. This then creates a battle against relegation as well as
one for promotion and may help maintain a competitive edge for those who are struggling or
mid-table also-rans.

I also play at ukfpl.com. Here Divisions are added continually throughout the season.
As one fills up another is created and the drop-out rate is comparatively low.
The playing format is different, but I think they are currently on 88 Divisions
- I would really love to see Football-Tipping grow to that size too.

Taking the last Minor League Standings and, for examples sake, putting the top 20 teams as ML1,
and the remainder as ML2, I then re-ordered them in terms of Success Rate.

Here is how the tables might look:

You will see my only other suggestion - a maximum of 6-up 6-down between any divisions.
Having fought and struggled to win promotion, with 8-down it is far too easy to slip back down,
or to freefall through the leagues.

A season of consolidation either up or down is much easier to bear!

If this helped in retaining players then, as the competition grew in size, the higher divisions
could in time change over to the "league" format

Just a thought - I'd be interested to know what you think but obviously I respect your views,
It's your site, your baby and I don't want to appear to be meddling!!!
Thanks agin for all your hard work on the site. Keep it up, and good luck with the new season

David
Fantastico Davido & Fantasico Centurians