If you’re like me and you play Fantasy Premier League, you’ll understand the reason for my recent annoyance. Last season, the FPL platform worked like a charm. Smooth. Simple. Sleek. One of those things that just worked so well you didn’t even stop to think about how it could be improved. Because really, what else did we need? We just wanted to set our lineups, stress about captain picks, curse at Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy, and quietly nurse the pain of our bad transfers. Life was good.
So imagine my surprise when this season began, and the platform showed up with a completely new look. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not against change. If they feel there’s a need for a fresh design, fine. Paint the walls. Rearrange the furniture. Add a new shine. But the issue is, ever since this change, the platform has been more of a headache than a helper. Navigation is clunky. Bugs pop up like weeds in the garden. The flow that made last season fun has turned into a maze that requires patience to get used to. And it’s not just me saying this. Folks like @belemo and @blanchy will nod in agreement.
This whole experience reminds me of something far beyond football. It also reminds me of politics.
See, politicians are famous for creating problems where none existed, only to swoop in later claiming to be saviors for fixing the very mess they engineered. Those who belong to the MAGA cult can probably testify to this. They inflate a balloon, poke a hole in it, then clap for themselves as they patch it back up. And in some strange way, that’s exactly how this FPL platform feels right now. A smooth experience was disrupted, not out of necessity, but seemingly just to justify a makeover.
Which begs the question: why do people try to fix what isn’t broken?
The Illusion of Progress
We live in a world that is addicted to the new. New designs, new policies, new versions of apps, new updates on our phones. It’s as though we’ve convinced ourselves that constant change is the same thing as progress. But here’s the truth. Not all change equals progress. Sometimes, change is just change. And sometimes, it’s a change for the worse.
Think about it. How many times have you updated an app on your phone only to regret it later? The buttons you knew are gone. Features you loved vanish without explanation. A simple swipe is replaced by a complicated three-step process. Yet we accept it, because we’ve been conditioned to believe new means better. Spoiler alert, it doesn’t always.
The FPL-Politician Parallel
Back to my FPL frustrations. When I look at this situation, I can’t help but see the reflection of how leadership works in many countries, especially in places like Nigeria. Politicians invent new projects that nobody asked for, roll out policies that disrupt people’s lives, then act shocked at the chaos they themselves caused. And when they finally fix the disruption, they parade themselves as heroes.
True leadership, or in FPL’s case, true platform management, is not about constant reinvention. It’s about stability, reliability, and trust. Nobody gives you an award for keeping the ship steady, but that’s exactly what keeps people loyal and satisfied.
The Psychology of Fixing
Why, then, do people insist on fixing things that aren’t broken? I think it boils down to two things: boredom and ego.
Developers, leaders, and even everyday people get tired of seeing the same thing. So they tinker. They tweak. They redesign. Not because it’s necessary, but because they feel they must.
There’s a desire to be seen as doing something. To be the one who brings a fresh vision. To leave a mark. Even if that mark complicates the lives of the very people they claim to serve.
In the end, though, the user, the citizen, the player, the everyday person, pays the price.
The Simple Power of Reliability
Sometimes, the best thing to do is nothing. Yes, nothing. If a system works, let it work. If the app runs smoothly, don’t reinvent the wheel. If a policy supports stability, resist the urge to replace it with shiny chaos. If a relationship works, don't get bored and try to foment trouble in the name of spicing things up. There’s beauty in consistency. There’s wisdom in restraint. And there’s heroism in preserving balance instead of disturbing it.
FPL could have kept its old design, fine-tuned it slightly if it really wanted, and everyone would have continued to enjoy the ride. Politicians, too, could focus on improving existing systems rather than tearing them down to build new ones nobody asked for. But restraint rarely earns applause, so we end up in a cycle of disruption disguised as progress.
Final Whistle
As I wrestle with the new FPL platform each week, it hits me that, whether in sports, technology, relationships, or governance, the best solutions are often the simplest ones. Progress isn’t about constant reinvention, but about making life easier, smoother, and more enjoyable.
My message to everyone out there today is, stop fixing what isn’t broken. Sometimes the greatest service you can offer is to let people enjoy what already works. Because when the whistle blows, nobody cares about the paint job, you just want the game to flow.
Posted Using INLEO