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What is Fantasy Football?
Don't understand the concept of Fantasy Football, eh? It's a fairly simple game to play... and a lot of fun to read. There are several Fantasy Football Sites that are free in existence on the Internet today. Hopefully, through this tutorial, we'll give you an idea on how to become a great manager. 

First, let's go through a few terms that will be used in this tutorial, and all fantasy leagues in general.

Fantasy Football League
A fantasy football league, where you can pretend you are a professional manager.

Manager
A character, either original (like ScreamKing) or unoriginal (Alex Ferguson) used in leagues.

Role-plays
RPs for short. Role-playing is an interview of some sort your manager makes in an effort to prove he's better than his opponents.

Chairman
The person who created the league/organisation. Sometimes known as the '? Team' or the '? Board' depending on the amount of board members. The Soccer All Stars team are known as the 'Executive Board' or 'SAS Board'.

Fantasy Football League's work a lot like the Football Association, Football League, or FIFA. Teams get matches set for a particular competition. The teams then play, one of them wins. The winners of the actual competition vary depending on the type of competition. One of the more important factors to fantasy football, and who gets a high push (high push meaning they're more likely to win) is if they can do a good interview/role-play. Manchester United and Alex Ferguson would be a perfect examples of this - Both can get the crowd to cheer, boo, yell, and scream just by speaking or playing. The same concept works in fantasy football. The only difference is, role-playing is what determines your push. Role-playing, essentially, is your voice in fantasy football.

By now you're asking yourself one thing- "How do I go about role-playing?" The idea in role-playing is to trash talk your opponent/s in as witty, intelligent, and/or unique a style as possible. It's not as easy as saying "I'm going to beat you", "We signed so and so cos we're the best", "We've been given loadsa money", and expecting it to actually happen when the Chairman or Board determines the winners. But before we go more in depth with how to role-play, you need a team and a manager. In order to be a good role-player, the first step is to create a manager down to the last feature. Write down every last thing you can to describe your manager, so you can get a better idea on what he would look like if he was real and how he would go about things. Let me give you an example of one: 

Name: ScreamKing
Known As: SK
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 12 stone
Personality: Likeable figure by the public. Fans and experts across the country respect and listen to his opinion. He has pride and determination to win and hates losing. He uses his resources well and likes a laugh in training. He's professional when he is required to be and enjoys taking on responsibility. Made one fatal mistake on national television when he criticised the board and was fined heavily. Despite the fans across the country being behind his comments he deeply regrets it. He wants to manager England one day with the goal of winning the World Cup.
Personal Appearance: Smartly dressed in suits, usually Navy coloured ones.. Always attends press conferences, matches etc, wearing suits. On the training field he enjoys wearing sporty clothes.

This could go even more in depth if necessary. The point is, you can get an idea of what SK would look like if he was in the real football industry. This enhances his  role-playing, because he can now talk the way he would expect SK to talk, act the way SK might act, and overall, become more detailed in his RPs. Without this brief description of yourself most Board Members and Chairman assume you to be the highest professionals in the game and look you down when your role-playing doesn't fit that criteria.

Now, you've got your manager created. You want to try role-playing, but you're not sure if you're good or not. Knowing how a person judges RPs would definitely enhance your chances of winning. There are many different ways that a Chairman or Board judges a role-play. Quality is usually the most important factor. By quality, it means coming up with an original idea for your manager, making the role-play "flow" (don't repeat yourself, don't start spitting out random sentences) and giving a vivid description of what's going on. Let's take a look at what would be considered a good role-play.

[The camera switches from the main news and fades in to the Television Sports Presenter who is speaking about SK's arrival as the new Manchester United manager. Speaking briefly from Old Trafford he goes over to a Press Conference that Manchester United held around an hour ago on national television. Manchester United Chairman Martin Edwards is half way through a sentence as the action proceeds...]

Martin Edwards:- "....potential. We hope ScreamKing has a long and successful reign here and I believe he has a few words to say for himself before answering questions."

[Camera switches to SK's face as he sits up straight and leans forward to speak into the microphone. Camera flashes are flickering all over the small room located in Old Trafford's executive board members area.]

ScreamKing:- *Clears his throat* I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the board and Mr. Edwards for giving me the opportunity to lead the terrific club into the new millennium. It gives me great pleasure to work with some of the biggest names in professional football today.

I would also like to thank Mr Sir Alex Ferguson for all his wonderful years of service he gave this magnificent football club. He is a legend here and in my opinion the greatest manager this country has ever seen.*A few claps echo around the room*

This brings me on to say that I am not here to replace him. I'm starting a new era for this club. If I can achieve half the success that the club has experienced over recent seasons then I feel I would be satisfied with that performance. In saying that I am not taking anything for granted. There's a lot of work to be done and I feel I'm up to the task.

[The camera then continues to focus on SK as he speaks about his new role as Manchester United boss and about Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to retire as General Manager. However his voice distances as the Television Sports Presenter voice is heard speaking. He speaks about ScreamKing answering questions from potential newspapers and media journalists. The voice of ScreamKing is then returned to a hearing state as the voice of the Television Sports Presenter comes to a halt. SK is in the middle of answering a question...]

SK:- ... Not at the moment no. I feel we've got a squad capable of challenging for honours and it will only be improved when we find the talent at the right price.

Journalist:- What's the situation of Roy Keane? Are you going to keep him or sell him. It's reported that Juventus are offering a figure of around £15m for his services.

SK:- *He stutters as he tries to deny the claims* Erm.. As far as I am aware *Glances in Martin Edwards direction* we've received no official bid from Juventus Football Club or any other club. I'm a great admirer of Roy Keane and I will certainly be doing my part to keep him at this Football Club. He has proved his worth here and has to be one of the best midfield players in the world today.

Journalist 2:- We've heard he is asking £50,000 per week. Mr. Edwards has already stressed that he does not want to break the wage structure at the club. What do you have to say about this?

SK:- *Slightly looks towards Mr. Edwards almost seeking help to answer the question.* Well, we are still negotiating with Roy at this minute and we will hopefully have the negotiations finalized by the end of the week.

Journalist 2:- But Keane wants £50,000 and Martin has said he will not break the structure.

SK:- *Confidently and perfectly replies* That's what negotiating is for. *followed by a smirk*

Journalist 3:- Do you feel pressurized by the success from last season? Can you maintain it?

[Martin Edwards then interrupts the question and choosing to answer it...]

Martin Edwards:- We've hired SK because we have great faith in him. Whether he emulates the success of last season or any other season is not the point. He is here now because of a hole that was left when Sir Alex Ferguson decided to retire. He's not here to replace that hole he's here to fill it. I have great faith in SK and I believe he will be very successful here at Old Trafford.

Journalist 3:- But... [He is then cut off by Martin Edwards again...]

Martin Edwards:- This brings me to the conclusion that this press conference comes to an end. We thank you all for attending and must get back to our duties now. ScreamKing and the rest of the staff are extremely busy with preparations for the new season. Thank you.

[The Press Conference comes to an end and the program returns to the Television Sports Presenter who continues with the next sporting subject]

Manchester United Football Club
ScreamKing - General Manager

I feel this is a good example of a role-play. First off, the RP starts a little out of character (OOC) introduction, which adds a little humor to the situation. From there, the RP goes into depth of what the scene is. Then goes in depth about the situation. It's a blend of professional, descriptive talking, and a point being made. The point being Manchester United have appointed a new manager and they are a little down over Ferguson's departure but certainly not out. Especially with the appointment of SK and role-playing like this.

You've seen a top notch role-play...so, now let's show you what you want to avoid doing. Bad role-plays miss the point your trying to make, and usually hurt your chances of winning more than it helps. Let's look at a bad RP example:

I am glad to be appointed the new manager of Arsenal. Wenger was clearly not up to the task and the board installed me after looking at my impressive history of winning the world cup with Brazil. They've given me £150m to spend and we've just secured the deal that brings Ronaldo in for just £12m. Out goes Chris Wreh to Leeds for £7.5m. Thanks for the cash. By the way these players are not for sale... Bergkamp, Ronaldo and Anelka. But transfer listed are Bould for £3m and Upson for £9m. We also played in a friendly last night against Juventus and had a healthy 5-1 victory. 

You can't even describe how bad this role-play is. Now, obviously "SK" is new to the Fantasy Football World....but doesn't really show much promise of staying. He's just decided to buy Ronaldo, adding money to his account, beating Juventus 5-1 and sold Christopher Wreh for £7.5m. SK could be a lot more creative than that. He also goes on to talk about how he's been appointed because of his impressive history of winning the world cup with Brazil. Which is obviously a lie with his abilities, and then continues with a run on sentence, no sense...and in the end, no logic to his role-play. He may have thought he won the World Cup with Brazil, bought Ronaldo for £12m and sold  Christopher Wreh for £7.5m, but in my fantasy football league, he'd be heading for relegation with RPs like that. 

Don't be mistaken, long RPs are not necessarily good ones. SK of Manchester United could see his side win the league, and his RPs were not long....what they were, however, was very well thought out and in a word "good." All fantasy league winners have shared this quality. There are many who will write half as much as SK of Manchester United and still come up with a role-play equal in stature. This help section will be updated more often, hoping to help you even more in your quest to become one of the best role-players ever.

As it stands hardly a sole role-plays in the way SK of Manchester United does. Most of the role-playing is actually pretty average and in some cases pretty poor. We need to get to grips with this and make our role-playing entertaining for everybody to read.

This also helps attract more people into playing the game.

Okay now we've got the differences between role-plays and that we have a characters brief description we can now use these to our advantage. Although this role-play would be considered silly if you said it normally, it's actually a good role-play because of the manager staying in character. Let's say for example that SK of Arsenal was a controversial manager who seemed to have his differences with the Soccer All Stars Executive Board.

Here's what I mean:

[John Newman is interviewing Arsenal Manager SK after their dramatic 1-0 defeat to arch rivals Manchester United... SK looks extremely annoyed and frustrated with a large frown he stares at Newman viscously. Newman proceeds to talk...]

John Newman: Well SK, you must be feeling all the emotions after an incredible 90 minutes of drama... A penalty in the last minute conceded by David Seaman and resulted him being sent off.

SK: Well I'm disgusted by the decision and quite frankly I'm fed up of these so called referee's assistants and referee's making rubbish decisions. I'm calling for all managers to voice their opinion with me and set up a professional referee's union. Because I am sick and tired of crap judgment which saw David get the red card for a foul which wasn't even in the penalty box. David was not the last line of defence in my opinion either. He now misses three very important games and I am going to appeal to the SAS Executive Board over this.

Newman: But Seaman didn't seem to argue the point and Alex Ferguson felt it was a penalty.

SK: Alex Ferguson would say that. It's not the point in arguing either. David knows better to argue with officials as he is a great professional who now misses games. The point here is that we need a Referee's Professional Union or some sort of set up.

Newman: SK, thanks a lot

SK: Thank you

[The after match interview ends and returns to the television show presenting the live game. Andy Gray is smiling as if he is embarrassed over the way SK spoke. Gray then goes on to say...]

Andy Gray: I don't understand why he'd come on national television and blast his mouth off like that. He has been told time and time before and well... I can only see the SAS Executive Board punishing him for his comments... I'm pretty sure he means well but looking on video evidence it clearly was a professional foul and David had to go...

[Gray then proceeds to show some of the games highlights...]

Although this role-play is a little strange, it's well written and sticks within the character. Too many managers take it personally when the Fantasy Leagues comes down on them. They are not actually punishing the person, they are punishing the person's manager. It's all part and parcel of the fun... but sometimes there is confusion and managers think or believe chairman or Board are being nasty to them...

The point I'm trying to make here is that sometimes we need managers who are controversial. We will still fine these managers in the same way, but it helps keep the league in bubbling condition.

If a manager is sacked, the person immediately takes it personally. Therefore it results in arguments and spamming of message boards etc. We need managers sacked and then controversially coming back for interviews and taking over new teams. Get it??

The role-play's above are just two of many different types. The two above are basically standard RP's that the majority of managers can easily write up. To be a better manager you must come up with something really original, entertaining and fun to read...